Stress: The 500kg Koala On 'Ya Back

What makes you feel the most stressed? That growing pile of bills? A relationship that’s on the rocks? Too many responsibilities to cram into 24 hours? We're getting stressed just listing those off…

Almost without fail, stress comes from feeling like things are out of your control. Whether it’s a drop bear attack or a jam-packed schedule, both threats and inconveniences rob us of the ability to live life how we planned. They ask more of us than we expected to give, and they introduce the possibility that we’ll fall short.

When something threatens to derail your plans, your body responds with a flood of focusing chemicals to help you assess the situation and re-adjust.... but because you’re never going to be perfectly in control, stress is inevitable. What separates good stress from distress is what we do once we find ourselves in the muck.

If stress has been weighing you down instead of pushing you forward, it’s not doing its job. We're going to take a look at your biggest stressors, identify the opportunities they present, and rise to the occasion by making stress work for you.

Recognising the Signs of Stress

Stress is normal, but long-term, sustained stress can be deadly.

When you get stressed, your body diverts most non-essential functions to briefly make you superhuman. Your muscles tighten, your attention sharpens, and time seems to slow down to help you make split-second decisions and improve your chance of survival. These are great superpowers for a pub brawl or swerving to miss a car crash, but they’re only meant to get you through an immediate crisis. When your body stays in fight-or-flight mode too long and too often, it starts to break down.

Physical Indicators:

  • Headaches
  • Sweating
  • Frequent illness
  • Difficulty concentrating
  • Trouble making decisions
  • Changes in sleep patterns
  • Appetite changes

Emotional and Mental Indicators:

  • Guilt or nervousness
  • Short fuse or frustration
  • Burnout
  • Feelings of insecurity
  • Low libido
  • Social withdrawal
  • Increased reliance on substances

Types of Stress: What’s Got You Wound Up?

Stress hits every man differently. One bloke uses it to fuel to build a killer business, while another feels like he’s buried in possibilities of failure before he even picks up the tools. Genetics, trauma, environment, and habits all play a role in shaping how we carry it, and while everyday stress is part of life, certain mental health conditions make that load heavier.

Common Stress-Related Disorders

Generalised Anxiety Disorder: Persistent, excessive worry across most areas of life.

Acute Stress Disorder: Intense symptoms immediately after a traumatic event.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Long-term response to trauma, often marked by flashbacks and avoidance.

Panic Disorder: Recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and anxiety about future ones.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Repetitive thoughts and behaviours tied to anxiety.

Social Anxiety: Avoiding social interactions out of intense fear of judgment.

Phobias: Overwhelming fear tied to specific triggers, sometimes leading to full-blown panic.

What’s Actually Going On?

When your body senses a threat, it floods your system with cortisol and adrenaline. Your senses sharpen, your heartbeat spikes, and your digestion takes a back seat. This is your ancient survival system kicking in and when it works properly, it gives you the edge to adapt and overcome.

But run the engine too hot for too long, and you burn it out.

The real kicker? We often extend stress way beyond the moment of danger. We catastrophes, overthink, and stay stuck in a state of perceived threat long after the moment’s passed. It’s like pulling the fire alarm every time someone lights a candle.

Fortunately, you don’t have to eliminate stress to get relief. You just have to manage it better.

How to Deal With Stress

Reframe It: Our brains are storytellers. If you catch yourself spiralling, pause and ask: what’s the actual threat here? Are you in danger, or just uncomfortable? Stress thrives in confusion. Clarity can kill it.

Move Your Body: Exercise is free medication. It burns off stress chemicals, boosts mood, and strengthens your ability to respond calmly next time. It doesn’t have to be a marathon. A walk, a lift, or a swim will do.

Eat Well & Rest Up: Junk food and poor sleep put your body on edge before the stress even hits. Real fuel and real rest help you face what’s coming.

Sort the Chaos: Write down everything on your plate. Prioritise. Cross things off. Say no more often. Even a rough plan gives you power over overwhelm.

Talk It Out: A mate, a mentor, a therapist... anyone who listens without judgment. Talking creates distance from the problem and often reveals the next step.

Consider Therapy: Sometimes you need a guide. Therapy can help you pinpoint root causes, teach new responses, and train your brain to bounce back faster.

If stress feels unmanageable, seeking professional support is a proactive step. Therapists can provide tools and techniques tailored to individual needs.

The Takeaway

Stress isn’t your enemy. It’s a signal. A response. A tool... but like any tool, it can do damage in untrained hands.

Learn how to hold it right, and stress becomes something that sharpens you, not something that breaks you.