Stress is indeed a natural part of our modern lives. With bills coming every month, kids’ activities are year-round and work never seems to slow down, and with relationships which all contribute to our stress levels. However, a little bit of stress is inevitable, but oftentimes that’s a good thing.
Good vs. Bad Stress
You may think any type of stress is bad, but that isn’t the case. Good stress, or eustress, is the type of stress you feel when you’re excited. Your pulse quickens and your hormones surge, but there is no threat or fear.
According to SummaHealth, Good stress is described as short-term. Good stress helps to inspire and motivate you to focus your energy and enhances performance.
Bad stress, however, is the kind that wears you out, leaves you jittery and is harmful to your health. Bad stress, or distress, can lead to anxiety, confusion, poor concentration and decreased performance.
There is also another type of stress which is known as Chronic stress. It can be short term or long term and when it is short term, it is referred to as acute stress which does not take a huge or heavy toll on your body if you find ways to relax quickly. But with chronic stress, when you repeatedly face stressors, it can take a heavy toll on your body and can cause negative health effects.
Symptoms of chronic stress include headaches, insomnia, weight gain, anxiety, pain and high blood pressure.
Common chronic stressors include:
- Relationships
- Money
- Work
- Unmanaged health or mental health problems
- Racial inequities
- Perceived loss
How to improve our stress response according to BannerHealth:
Since our minds and bodies are so connected, there are many things we can do to manage our stress response. Our bodies send signals to the brain, and vice versa, and we also have some choice in the signals they send.
Starting with the body, we can do things like:
- Set a timer for the middle of each day to get out of our chair, stretch and get our body moving.
- Use a heating pad to relax our shoulders.
- Avoid using our phone right before bedtime.
- Learn to breathe deeply and steadily, to slow our heart rate and to relax our muscles when a stressful situation comes our way.
Also see: Your mind is lying to you: Ways to overcome social anxiety
