Stress And Personal Space: Invasion Of Your Privacy

Personal space is a private and exclusive territory that no one else is allowed to invade. The term personal space is not just something physical. It also has to do with the invasion of this area by other stimuli, such as sound, other people’s emotions and too much information. It also has to do with constant interruptions of our moments and an invasion of your privacy as we are to ourselves.

Sometimes people go through life like big elephants invading other people’s spaces, trampling on their rights and violating their privacy. This often happens in the workplace, which undoubtedly affects productivity. It also gives rise to high levels of stress and discomfort.

There is one aspect of this that we cannot ignore. Personal space does not only have to do with the presence of others, whether it is voices, others’ breathing or body heat that make us feel uncomfortable. Personal space is also a bubble that can burst due to psycho-sensory stimulation.

In other words, certain things like furniture, lack of light or the smell of a certain environment can also cause stress. Not being able to take a break and being constantly monitored or controlled is also an invasion of your privacy.

Privacy, stress and an invasion of your privacy

Anne and Paul have just become parents and feel overwhelmed. The stress that the person experiences has nothing to do with the child, but the environment, family, friends and employees. Since the person was in the hospital, his personal space has been constantly invaded. People have come to meet the little one, hold him and give thousands of tips on how to be a parent.

This is a small example of how the environment can sometimes invade one’s personal space. You do not have to stand in an elevator full of people to feel uncomfortable. The more serious “aggressions” often come from the people closest to us. Here it is important to set boundaries.

This is a reality that psychologists often see in their practice. They meet people who spend their lives feeling that they can not protect their privacy. Such an inability to manage personal boundaries creates a high emotional cost and weakens even psychological architecture.

Remember that it is important for your survival that you limit and protect your personal space. It is also an exercise where you learn about yourself and understand that we all have our limits. We have lines that no one should cross because that is where you have your self-esteem.

Take care of yourself and protect your personal space

Ralph Adolph and Daniel P. Kennedy are neurologists at the University of Caltech in the United States. They have discovered that there is a structure in our brain that tells us where the boundaries of our personal space are. This structure is found in the amygdala, a small region associated with fear and survival instinct.

This discovery has revealed something interesting. The brain measures each individual’s personal boundaries. It’s like a personal alarm that tells us when something is bothering us. When something invades our privacy or violates our privacy to the point that it becomes a threat to our well-being. These boundaries differ from person to person. Some people feel overwhelmed and are easily stressed by every slightest stimulus, while others have a significantly higher tolerance.

Proxemics is a science that studies the effects of our relationships. It reminds us that one of the biggest reasons we have anxiety is that we get to witness daily how “cramped” we are. Not only do we lack enough space for everything, but we also get to take part in very many stimuli and be drawn into interactions. We often do not set up any filters, but let all this surround us.

Be your own protector to prevent an invasion of your privacy

You must be able to manage your own personal boundaries. We talk about learning how to establish a physical and psychological distance to all external dynamics that attack our privacy and do and stress. Sometimes our colleagues invade our space. Other times, a noisy environment can be the problem.

In other cases, it is about our inability to say no and make clear what we can and cannot tolerate when it comes to our personal space. Setting clear boundaries will help us interact with others. It is only by doing this that we will create a more respectful, productive and healthy social environment.