TheBetterWarrior

Stress is a feeling that probably every human has experienced once. 

While there are some who continue to live with the feeling of stress with them, for what seems like an eternity.

While we live among the stars and float in the galaxy like a speck of dust, we are still grounded in a reality where there are certain triggers that are apparent to bring us stress.

The stress we often dread and crumble under.

Life is if anything a series of random yet meaningful moments.

And sometimes, some of these moments cause great havoc in our minds, which often leads to serious consequences in our life.

What Is Stress?

Stress can be defined as a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation.

Definition By WHO

It is a physiological and psychological response of our body to external pressures or demands, often called stressors. 

• Some stressors are common among people. 

• While some stressors vary from individual to individual as per the individual’s thought process.

Know that, stress is a natural response that prepares our body to react to a perceived challenge or threat. 

It has been an evolutionary gift to mankind, but sometimes it just goes haywire. 

And then the mind descends into chaos.

• The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is activated by stressors, causes the release of chemicals like cortisol and adrenaline.
  • These particular hormones increase our heart rate, blood pressure and respiration, which prepares us for the famous “fight or flight” response.

What are Bad Stress And Good Stress?

Nature and physics have thought us that, there is an equal and opposite reaction to every action.

There are two sides to a coin, and that is the case with stress.

Stress also has two sides: good and bad, often known as eustress and distress, respectively.

• The kind that is damaging to our health and wellness is called distress. 
  • It is the feeling of anxiety, fear, and worry that we experience when we are overwhelmed by a situation or task.

• The kind that can actually be good for our health and wellness is called eustress.
  • When we are faced with a difficult scenario or assignment, we feel a sense of exhilaration, motivation, and focus.

It is necessary to understand how stress impacts you, so you can deal it with better.

Because once, you understand, you can know.

Remember, doing anything and everything too much is always bad for our being.

Is Distress Really That Bad?

Although stress is a normal and necessary reaction, if it lasts for an extended period of time, it can be detrimental to our physical and mental health.

• It can increase the likelihood of conditions like anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, and digestive issues.

Because of this, it’s essential to manage your stress levels and develop coping mechanisms to decrease the effects.

Cons Of Distress

• Physical health problems:
  • Physical health issues including high blood pressure, heart disease, digestive problems, and a compromised immune system can be brought on by prolonged stress. 
    • Additionally, it may cause fatigue, muscle tension, and headaches.

• Mental health problems:
  • Anxiety, sadness, and insomnia are just a few of the detrimental repercussions of ongoing stress. Additionally, it may have an impact on cognition, memory, and focus.

• Impaired decision-making:
  • Prolonged stress can impair our ability to make decisions and can cause us to make poor choices, such poor choices can have a cascading effect on your life.

• Relationship problems:
  • Chronic Stress can make us irritated and impatient, which can produce arguments and issues in our interpersonal relationships.

• Decreased productivity:
  • Our ability to focus, concentrate, and be productive, can be impacted negatively under severe stress which may impact our work and other responsibilities.

• Burnout:
  • Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by prolonged stress

Is Eustress Really That Good?

While continuous or long-term exposure can have negative effects.  

Short-term or acute stress can benefit our physical and mental health.

• It can enhance cognitive function by enhancing brain neural connections, memory and attention span, and productivity. 

Pros of Eustress

• Increased alertness and focus:
  • Acute stress can sharpen our focus and alertness, enabling us to work more effectively on tasks that call for our attention and concentration.

• Motivation:
  • Acute stress can also inspire us to achieve our goals, such as meeting deadlines, performing well in competitions, studying for exams or talking with a girl/boy we might like.

• Resilience:
  • Our resilience and ability to handle such pressure or distress in the future can be strengthened when we successfully navigate challenging circumstances.

• Improved immune function:
  • Actually, a brief period of stress can strengthen our immune system and aid in the fight against infections and illnesses.

• Enhanced memory:
  • Acute stress may aid memory retrieval by increasing the brain’s ability for information storage and retrieval, according to certain studies.

That you are here — that life exists, and identity; that the powerful play goes on and you may contribute a verse.” That the powerful play *goes on* and you may contribute a verse. What will your verse be?”

— John Keating (Robin Williams), Dead Poets Society

Can You Be Happy Then With Your Stress?

The Truth is, it depends. What one may think of as eustress, can be a distress for another.

And that’s the silver lining.

Once you figure out what are your eustress and distress, you can adapt new habits to better manage your anguish and happiness.

Some of the specific ways to manage stress are:

• Exercise:
  • Because it elevates mood and releases endorphins, exercise can help lower stress levels. A quick walk or yoga session can be beneficial.

• Practice mindfulness:
  • Mindfulness involves paying attention to the present moment. It can be achieved through meditation or simply taking a few minutes to focus on your breath.

• Take breaks:
  • Schedule regular breaks to stretch, take a walk, or simply rest your eyes.

• Connect with others:
  • Social support is important for managing stress and improving overall wellbeing and it also helps to gain perspective.

• Engage in hobbies or activities you enjoy:
  • Whether it’s reading, cooking, or playing an instrument, find activities that bring you joy.

• Get enough sleep:
  • Aim for 7-9 hours of sleep each night and establish a regular sleep routine.

And while you do any of these steps above or all of them, remember something important.

That it’s going to be okay. Remember, that life goes on.

If you feel that you still feel chronic stress, I suggest meeting a licensed health professional.

Remember, my fellow warriors, you exist and the powerful play goes on!

What’s your way to deal with your distress? Let us know in the comments!