Is stress always harmful?
Written by
Stella Nilsson
Reviewed by
Prof. William Dalton, Ph.D.Not all forms of stress are harmful to your health. Positive stress stress, referred to as eustress, improves performance when faced with difficulties. It inspires drive for progress and success. This kind of stress focuses our attention before giving a presentation. It motivates you during a mentally taxing creative effort. The challenge is to distinguish between helpful stress and harmful stress.
Stress that is harmful causes chronically elevated cortisol. This, in turn, creates inflammation and weakens immunity. It shows up as chronic anxiety or tension in your body. Helpful stress causes temporary adrenaline surges. Adrenaline surges enhance your quickness and reaction time during stressful moments. Both types activate your nervous system, but in different ways.
Eustress Indicators
- Short-term duration with clear endpoints
- Creates excitement and focused energy
- Leaves you feeling accomplished afterward
Distress Signals
- Persistent physical symptoms like headaches
- Creates dread or avoidance behaviors
- Leaves you feeling drained not energized
Change harmful stress by using specific techniques. Use the 4 A's for chronic stress. Avoid stressors when possible. Alter the stress or situation when possible. Adapt to the stress when needed. Accept what cannot be changed. This maintains beneficial stress while decreasing the risk of harming effectiveness.
Engage eustress with challenge reframing. Frame public speaking as a potential growth opportunity. Frame deadlines are a productivity tool. Keep challenge levels optimal. Too low induces boredom. Too high induces overwhelm. Find your performance sweet spot. This premium balance leads to the greatest achievement.
Enhance your resilience to stress every day! Consider allowing five minutes of mindfulness each day. Maintain consistency in your sleep routine. Create social support systems. These habits develop physiological buffers. They support properly utilized stress. They protect against toxic stress build-up. You build a more flexible nervous system.
Observe how you respond to stress every week. Identify the physical and emotional patterns you experience. Adjust your management strategies accordingly. Continue to include positive or desirable stressors in your life. Reduce harmful stressors deliberately and systematically. This balanced approach to living fosters durable performance and wellbeing.
Read the full article: 15 Stress Management Strategies That Work
