Distancing is the action of creating a distance, of taking a step back, between oneself and an action carried out or words formulated. This distancing, this distance taken from a potentially distressing event, allows you to better manage your stress, keep your cool, by taking less to heart, for example, words that could at first sight hurt us. The neuroscientist Henri Laborit has, in particular, worked a lot on stress: he was able to specify that three types of reactions are possible to adapt to it, which are flight, fight or inhibition of action.

Distancing is defined as taking a step back from something, from an event: it is about creating a distance between oneself and reality. It is also necessary to know how to master words spoken sometimes under stress: because a truth said without diplomacy could potentially hurt your interlocutor, even if it was important to say.

The distancing effect is, on the other hand, a theatrical practice: originally, it was indeed the expression used by Brecht to designate the effect by which the actor dissociates himself from his character, in order to obtain a critical attitude from the public.

This notion, in psychology, ultimately consists in creating a distance between oneself and reality, which will make it possible to limit the potential effects of stress.

On the concept of stress, the work of Hans Selye was foundational. This Canadian scientist, during the 1930s, was the first to develop a model of this non-specific reaction of the organism to any form of aggression. The researcher Henri Laborit then placed it in a broader evolutionary perspective, as being “the organic reaction to a threat when flight or fight becomes impossible, with potentially harmful consequences for health if this inhibition lasts too long«.

Faced with a stressful situation, humans have three alternatives to adapt: ​​flight, fight or inhibition of action. The latter, proposed by the neuroscientist Henri Laborit, was selected at the cerebral level as an auxiliary solution allowing survival when neither the approach solutions (fight) nor that of withdrawal (flight) are effective.

The prolonged activation of this chronic stress system releases glucocorticoids, also called cortisol. Avoiding getting into this type of chronic stress by being able to distance yourself from your environment will limit such cortisol secretion. However, it is all the more important to avoid it since this molecule could, for example, be responsible for the appearance of psychosomatic disorders such as stomach ulcers, reduced immunity or even cancer.

The neurologist Régine Zekri-Hurstel estimates, on the site psychologies.com: “The stress of the ‘other’ is contagious, because the person you know then functions differently. His stress causes a change of rhythm which no longer corresponds to ours: acceleration of movements, change of tone of voice … In return, we react to these stimuli by increasing our own stress, feeding the problem again …»Best way, then, to reduce your own stress? Keep that of the other at a distance by helping them to lower their own stress!

Especially since putting a distance from what can stress us about him is also a way to preserve his relationship with others. The ego, which implies wanting to be absolutely right or even the tendency to say things without apologizing, is not the most important thing. The main thing is, rather, the quality of the relationship that one has with the other.

Life is already complicated enough: it is therefore useless to let stress take over and weaken it… The first example of these easily avoidable sources of stress: social networks. They can indeed generate a form of excessive imprisonment, either because you feel obliged to check every minute what is written there, or because you always think you are missing something if you do not go there regularly … Decrease so your interactions on Facebook! You will thus take a step back …

Another frequent source of stress from which it is sometimes good to detach yourself: information. If you feel a little fragile, perhaps avoid turning on the television or the radio … Look for perfection at all costs: another type of stress with which you can take a distance, by agreeing not to do everything at all costs. perfection, and thus avoid heading towards exhaustion. Last example: stay away from the bad mood of others. Indeed, the mood of people can have a big influence on yours… Surrounding oneself with negative or irritated people can therefore generate a stressful process. Therefore, favor relationships with relatives and people who are happy to live, who will thus transmit their good humor to you! 

This distance taken from certain sources of unnecessary stress, and which can be easily eliminated, will already make your life lighter … Because what could be healthier than to live serene, in harmony, with yourself as with those close to you …