Answering this question without first giving you an understanding of the meaning of ‘STRESS’ will be putting the cart before the horse. Firstly, let us understand the meaning (if you like, the definition) of stress, the way professionals have defined it. This is the widely accepted definition.
What is Stress?
Stress is a physical or mental tension caused by intense activities or worries stretching over a period of time and causing psychological or mental discomfort or both to a person. World Health Organization (WHO) defines Stress as “a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation”. Further explaining this, WHO says it is “a natural human response that prompts us to address challenges and threats in our lives”. There are many definitions of stress and they generally mean the same. These are adequate for appropriate knowledge of the subject matter.
Life is full of stress, and everyone has a fair share of it as we live through life. Life throws all sorts at us. How we manage or respond to them depend on individual knowledge and understanding of the situation and also the help available to us.
Now back to the topic; Is Stress good or bad? Stress can either be good or bad. This depends on the cause, type, and duration of stress.
There are various types of stress and they are as follows:
1. GOOD STRESS: Also called Eustress, is the type that challenges us to great and positive response. It is usually a feel-good stress that leaves a person satisfied at the end of it. The time period of this type of stress is always short and, in some cases, periodic. Good stress is also often times exciting. It drives you to achieve success. It is good for proper brain functioning. Furthermore, it keeps you on your toes, active and alert. It also comes with some excitement.
Some examples of good stress:
A. Meeting work deadlines.
B. Work-outs to keep fit physically and mentally.
C. Planning and going on a Travel or holiday, camping, road trips, going on a date, skydiving etc
D. Starting an exciting new project.
2. BAD STRESS: also Known as Distress, is the negative stress. This is the one everyone should fight against or avoid. This is the unhealthy stress. At this level, it is referred to as chronic stress. Chronic stress results in severe health deteriorations. These include depression, mental health deterioration, unstable temperament, anxiety etc.
” Distress occurs when stress is prolonged, excessive, or perceived as overwhelming and unavoidable. This “fight-or-flight” response, when constantly activated, can damage your health”. — www.google.com
If your body does not handle it well, “Chronic stress will impact every organ system in the body. You might feel anxiety, depression and digestive issues, for example.” Dr Safia Debar (stress management expert at Mayo Clinic healthcare, London, UK)
According to Dr Debar, “When someone realizes the threat has passed, the body begins to repair itself from this response and ‘tidy up’. It shifts to a repair, renew and growth state as the stress response is mopped up”.
Your body system recognizes stress and reacts to it. After dealing with the stress, it returns to baseline and begins restorations of normal operations to the body; a healing mode. The longer a challenge or stressor lasts, the more dangerous it becomes. BAD STRESS kicks in and the system is in distress.
Examples of bad stress:
Any type of stress that continues for weeks or months is chronic stress.
A. Financial problems- Significant financial difficulties, poverty, or bankruptcy.
B. Relationship Problems-Ongoing conflict, strain, or loneliness within interpersonal relationships.
C. Environmental Factors-Living in a noisy or chaotic environment or being exposed to things like natural disasters or violence.
D. Workplace Issues- A high pressure job, constant heavy workload, tight deadlines, or feeling of being overworked.
E. Significant Loss(es) – Death of a loved one with unmanageable effect leading to huge or significant emotional trauma. Huge financial loss due to a bad business decision can result in the feeling of chronic stress when not managed effectively.
F. Health Challenges of great effect.
G. Academic or Career Failures.
H. Emotional or Physical abuse of huge psychological effects.
Why is Bad Stress Bad?
Bad stress is bad because when we are faced with stress (especially for a long time) our body activates the ‘fight or flight’ mode of engagement. In doing so, the body produces stress hormones such as cortisol. The prolonged stay of these hormones can cause the body to function abnormally, thereby leading to dangerous changes to the brain and body, and causing various health issues.
Note: A further material on this topic will be posted following this. This will be from the American Psychological Association (APA) – stress effects on the body.
Dangers of Chronic Stress
Here is a summary of the dangers of Chronic Stress:
Physical Health Dangers
• Severe, constant and very distressing headaches and muscle pain.
• Digestive disorder, constipation, Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and even diarrhoea
• Chronic stress can cause a dangerous rise in blood pressure, with the risk of heart attack and strokes.
• Chronic stress alters proper functioning of the body system. This leaves the body vulnerable to disease attacks and other dangerous infections.
• Sexual health and alteration in the regular menstrual cycle of a woman.
• It can lead to depression and anxiety disorder.
• It can lead to unwanted weight gain, diabetes etc.
• Speeds up memory loss. Dementia.
• Sleep problems. Insomnia.
How Chronic Stress Works.
• When you face a persistent stressor, your body’s “fight-or-flight” response stays activated.
• This leads to prolonged exposure to stress hormones like cortisol. Cortisol on its own aids the body to cope with stress. However, a sustained high level of it disrupts the normal functioning of the body. (We will discuss this more in a future post under stress and hormones).
• The long-term activation of this system can lead to lasting changes in the brain and body, increasing the vulnerability to various health issues.
Basic Measures for Stress Remedy
• Regular physical exercises, which also helps you keep fit.
• Regularly practice a slow deep breath until your lungs are filled with air and then take a second quick and short breath. Then exhale slowly until you empty all the air in your lungs. This will help lower your stress level in real time.
• Eat appropriately.
• Sleep and rest well and enough.
• Decloak your mind. Avoid storing up nonessential matters.
• Do what makes you happy.
• Do not isolate yourself from interactions and socialization, especially the gainful ones.
In conclusion, life is stress and stress is unavoidable. We live to face them. Learn to manage all stressors in your life. Always DE-STRESS with techniques and measures recommended by experts.
In the words of Dr. Hunziker: “I tell people all the time, chronic stress is this situation where you are under pressure from multiple different sources, and there are chemical changes in your body that occur, specifically cortisol levels increasing, that start to disrupt sleep, disrupt appetite. Even your immune system takes a hit when you are chronically stressed”.
Little stressors can add up to cause significant pressure to the mind and body and become harmful.
HELP YOURSELF.
STRESSTALKBLOG.COM …all things stress
References/ other interesting Materials by:
Med Stanford
Mayo Clinic
Healthline
American Psychological Association -APA
Priory Group/Median Group
Healthcare UTAH
https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2012/12/good-stress-bad-stress.html
