What is Stress?
Stress is a state of worry or mental tension that can be caused by a challenge or demand. Stress is your body's natural fight-or-flight response. It is something that everyone faces from time to time. There are two kinds of stress; short-term (caused by something that happens once) or long-term (something that reoccurs).
What Happens in the Body When Put Under Stress?
When stressed, your body releases a hormone called Cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that, when stressed makes you alert and ready to act. It is what raises your heart rate, blood pressure, and blood sugar levels (glucose).
Good Stress vs. Bad Stress
You may feel that stress is always a bad thing, but not all stress is bad. Good stress is a short term stress also called eustress, the type of stress you feel when you're excited. It is the stress where your heart rate fastens and hormones rise, but there is no threat or fear in place.
This stress may occur when doing things like riding a roller coaster, going on a first date, or winning a trophy. Eustress inspires and motivates you, focuses your energy and enhances performance.
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Bad stress also called distress is the other kind of stress, the kind that wears you out and is critical to your personal well-being. It is the stress that can lead to confusion, anxiety, poor concentration, and decreases performance.
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Bad stress can be both short-term (acute) and long-term (chronic). Acute stress doesn't cause significant damage if you find ways to decompress efficiently. However, chronic stress, when you are repeatedly faced with stressors, can promote significant damage to your well-being and be the cause for possible negative health effects. Chronic stress can cause headaches, insomnia, anxiety, weight gain or loss, pain, and high blood pressure.
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Common chronic stressors include:
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Relationships
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Money
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Work
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Racial inequality
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Mental health difficulties
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Perceived loss
Both good and bad stress result from your body releasing hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, that triggers the signs of stress such as; butterflies in your stomach, racing heart, and sweaty palms. Essentially, what distinguishes good stress from bad stress is all about how you perceive a situation or event.
How to Reduce Bad Stress
Stress can become a problem if it comes to affect your day-to-day way of living. The key to managing stress is to be able to identify the bad stressors in your life and develop healthy ways of coping with them.
7 Healthy Ways to Manage Bad Stress:
​1. Eliminate as much stress as you can.
2. Accept that there are things that are just out of your control.
3. Think positive thoughts.
5. Add relaxation techniques to your everyday routine.
6. Stay healthy and fit.
7. Get enough sleep (8-10 hours for those 13-18 years of age).
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