Everyone needs a little stress in their life. Here’s how to tell right from wrong | Essence

From endless to-do lists to balancing work, your social and family life, and personal responsibilities, it’s easy to become stressed and want to avoid these feelings because it can feel overwhelming and uncomfortable. . However, stress, whether we like it or not, is a part of everyday life, and you may be surprised to learn that some stress is considered a good thing. Good stress, also known as eustress, is a type of stress you might experience before completing a work assignment, attending a first date, or an excursion you’re excited about. When we experience good stress, our heart rate and respiratory rate increase and we feel a thrill of excitement. Good stress can be a short-term change in our body that makes us feel energized and prepared, preparing us to perform at our best. While good stress helps you feel positive anticipation and improves your well-being, bad stress can harm your health, but it’s important to have both.

Good stress:

Good stress, or eustress, is a type of stress we feel when we are excited. We feel this type of stress when we ride a roller coaster and compete for a promotion. There are many triggers for this good stress, and it keeps us feeling alive and excited about life. Some level of stress helps keep your mind and body alert and responsive, which can motivate you and help you perform at your best. Stress can improve performance, at least to a certain extent. Once you pass this point, stress can harm your ability to perform well.

Good stress versus bad stress:

Another type of stress is acute stress. Acute stress also triggers the body’s stress response, but the triggers don’t always feel good, which can be considered stress or bad stress. Acute stress itself does not have harmful consequences if we find ways to relax quickly. Once the stressor is dealt with, we need to return our body to homeostasis, or its pre-stress state, to be healthy and happy.

Chronic stress is considered another form of bad stress. This happens when we are repeatedly confronted with stressors that have heavy consequences and seem inevitable and overwhelming. A stressful job and an unhappy home life can lead to chronic stress, generally considered to be serious stress. Since our bodies are not designed to handle chronic stress, we may be subject to negative health effects (both physical and emotional) if we experience chronic stress for an extended period of time.

How can good stress be beneficial?

Good stress can improve your mood and help you perform at your best. But these are not the only advantages.

Cognitive benefits: Research suggests that short-term stress has a positive impact on memory. This can be useful in certain situations, such as during an exam.

Increased resilience: When you face a stressful situation, it can help you learn more about yourself, your skills and your limitations.

Strengthened immunity: Although bad stress harms your immune system, some research indicates that short-term stressors can help improve your body’s ability to cope with illness and injury.