As already described, there are a number of ways in which the volume of water can be reduced. The first and most obvious solution is to remove the stressor. In other words, if an activity is resulting in undue stress for the participant, then the activity can sometimes be ceased. This is akin to either picking the bucket up and moving it away from the water, or simply turning the water source off. However, this only works where the person is participating in the stressful activity by choice. Whilst choice is, of course, subject to debate, let us assume, for the sake of argument, that there is a significant difference, where choice is concerned, between becoming stressed over, for example, not beating a level on a computer game, and becoming stressed over, for example, perceived physical danger to a family member. Let us also concede, for the sake of argument, that in some cases, the bucket is where it is as a matter of absolute necessity. Nevertheless, in many cases, this solution is valid by this analogy. If the thing in question is stressing you out, and you do not need to be doing it, then stop.

In situations where this cannot be done, however, then other solutions need to be found. Another solution is to unload some of the water into another bucket. In this case, this means getting help, either physically or psychologically, from others. However, the difficulty with this solution is that a) others might not be inclined, able or available to help, and 2) the more the individual relies on others, the less likely they may be to help in the future. Another problem may be faced by the volume of water already in other buckets. Others, after all, have lives and stressors of their own, and some of their buckets may be full to overflowing, and are thus, again, unable to help without causing serious problems for themselves. If two people, for example, are both overwhelmed by stress on a regular basis, then they may not always have the capacity to help each other as and when they need to. In this situation, help can only come from outside with more people, or another solution entirely.

There is another attempted solution that is, in fact, not a solution at all, and that is unhealthy coping strategies, such as substance or behavioural addictions. These allow people to temporarily escape from the stressors they are experiencing. However, they do not actually reduce the overall volume of the water, because the behaviours reduce stress only to then cause it at a later date, thus the water merely gets circulated back into the bucket again, ultimately changing nothing (Pierceall & Keim, 2007). Medication can also be used as a potential solution, and in some cases, it may even be an essential part of the solution. However, this is not without significant risks, as medication may, like recreational drugs, only lead to more stress if it leads to adverse side effects or drug dependency (Bridge et al, 2005).

The better solution, therefore, is stress relievers that do not lead to more stress further down the line by adversely affecting a person’s physical health. Exercise, diet, artistic expression, meditation, and intellectual pursuits are all valid means of focussing the mind on realistic, achievable goals and promoting self-esteem (Pierceall & Keim, 2007). These may also strengthen a person’s physical and mental resilience, akin to making the bucket larger and able to take more water. Quality sleep is also an essential means of siphoning off stress, akin to reducing standing water via evaporation. These healthy coping strategies do not, in and of themselves, change the fact that water is coming in in the first place, or the rate at which this happens, but do help to slow the rate at which the bucket fills overall, and to reduce standing water inside the bucket. However, the problem with this solution is time. For example, this may work on our earlier example of a person suffering from acute stress, where compassionate leave is given for the individual to process what has happened and creatively find means of moving forward. A perfect example of this would be something like a poem written for a deceased loved one at a funeral as a means of saying farewell. However, for our other example of a person suffering from chronic stress, for example from being overworked, these activities and rituals might not be an option due to time or other constraints.

The worst-case scenario is an individual for whom none of these solutions are available. For example, someone who is exposed to a stressor they cannot escape from, has nobody to turn to for advice or support, or is surrounded by people who are either unable to help or are indifferent to their suffering, and do not have time to engage in lengthy endeavours not immediately related to dealing with getting through the day. The analogy for this would be placing a bucket under a tap, with all outlets sealed up, nailing it in place and then breaking the fossette so that the water cannot be turned off. This is a recipe for disaster, as it is only a matter of time before the bucket overflows. Another example would be a similar situation, but instead of a tap, the water is persistently poured in from other buckets. This can happen with people who have others who depend on them, and cannot easily or morally escape from that fact, parenthood being a prime example of this. The fact that others depend on them, however, does not change the fact that the size of their bucket is limited. With chronic stress in particular, it is not, contrary to popular belief, a matter of mental resilience per say, but rather a simple matter of quantities and rates. The size of the bucket may mean that it takes longer to fill, but that does not change the fact that if the rate of water going in exceeds the rate at which it leaves, then unless that situation changes, this can still only result in an overflow. Everyone has a finite limit to how much stress they can withstand, no matter how resilient they are. Therefore, if it is the case that such a person is totally without any realistic means of getting water out of the bucket faster than it is coming in, then this is a serious problem.

However, if we have established that the main problem here is time, then that opens our thought experiment up to other potential solutions. In any situation where time constraints are an issue, effective time management is critical, both to schedule required tasks effectively, and avoid losing track, but also to reduce the rate at which stress builds due to procrastination. Forward planning is itself a healthy coping strategy because it allows the mind to focus on removing the source of stress, which is the feeling of being overwhelmed by responsibility. It is also vitally important, in such a situation, to prioritise and not add anything into this plan that might unnecessarily add stress to an already stressful situation. For example, if someone is offering to help out with something, do not turn them down just because you feel like it ought to be your responsibility. Communication and honesty about one’s situation is also critical to let others know when to step in and help. If others cannot see the water level rising, then they will not be able to help you. The most difficult part of this is overcoming one’s ego, and this is because we are constantly bombarded with aspirations of self-sustainability.  However, the reality is that very few people are truly self-sustaining in every possible sense of the word, by simple virtue of the fact that we live in a community where we must rely on some level of cooperation with others to be able to function at all. This aspiration towards self-sustainability, whilst admirable, can also be incredibly detrimental to one’s ability to manage stress effectively, because it often leads to people taking on far more responsibility than they actually need to. Therefore, one of the key solutions to stress is to be courageous enough to let others know that you are not coping, and if they will not listen, then to insist on taking time out to speak to a professional. In terms of our stress bucket, this means physically ripping it out from underneath the tap and throwing the water out of the nearest window. This is the solution of last resort.

It never ceases to amaze how differently mental health is regarded as compared with physical health. If an employee, for instance, contracts a life-threatening disease, like pneumonia, lung cancer or even severe forms of Covid-19, then generally there is little to no question that person requires immediate medical intervention, and that this supersedes their work responsibilities. Does that mean all physical illnesses should be taken so seriously? Not at all. If a person has plantar fasciitis, or tennis elbow, then this should not adversely affect their ability to work behind a desk. Physical conditions can be mild, moderate, severe or life threatening, and each level should warrant a greater level of concern. When it comes to mental health conditions, however, the same cannot be said, despite the fact that they behave in exactly the same way. Mild to moderate stress should not warrant undue concern, as this is, quite frankly, normal. Persistent thoughts of suicide, or a sudden, rapid decline in a person’s short-term memory, on the other hand, could indicate a serious and/or life-threatening neurological condition like major depressive disorder or early onset dementia, both of which may be exacerbated by stress. To brush this under the carpet by saying things like, ‘you just need to calm down a bit’, or ‘you seriously need to pull yourself together’, would be unthinkable for an equivalent physical health condition, and yet with even severe mental health conditions, such reactions are commonplace. For this reason, the ultimate solution to stress is to facilitate a cultural shift towards recognition and a refusal to accept this double standard; that is a collective responsibility.  Stress, like many biochemical processes, is invariably manageable. In low quantities, it should not warrant undue concern, but in high enough quantities, it can put lives at risk, and requires immediate medical invention. Like most things, it’s all in the dose.