We usually don’t brag about being stressed. In fact, many of us dream of living lives that are as “stress-free” as possible. But is that really a good goal? Stressful, unexpected events can also be opportunities to stretch and grow.

But what is stress?

Stress refers to the physiological response that our body, emotions, and nervous system trigger in order to prepare us for situations that demand heightened awareness. There are two primary kinds of stress: acute and chronic.

Acute stress is the term for a short-lived stressor. It is generally associated with a protective response. Chronic stress is a long-lasting experience usually rooted in circumstances that are beyond our control, and because our bodies and minds don’t get a chance to recover, we begin to experience negative effects such as the following.

• Anxiety
• Depression
• Irritability
• Fatigue
• Burnout
• Weakened immune system
• Unexplained aches and pains (including headaches)
• Difficulty with memory and concentration

What about good stress?

The purpose of stress is to sharpen our senses to help us perform better, so a little bit of stress can actually help through expectation, excitement, or anticipation. Here are four benefits of good stress:

1. You perform better and achieve more;
2. You connect with others in more meaningful ways;
3. You learn more about yourself;
4. You challenge yourself in new ways and build your self-efficacy

Since good stress naturally leads to growth, experiencing challenges is the surest way to develop your capacity.

Stress is inevitable. Encountering stressful challenges is an opportunity to grow and develop your skills for continued success. While you can’t necessarily control everything that happens to you, you can control whether you see it as good stress or bad stress.

To your Health! Jessica et Bruno

*Source: Psychology Today, Janvier 2022. Dr. Rangan Chatterjee MD

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