Stress: good or bad?

The topic of stress has been getting very bad press in the last years. Many of us consider ourselves stressed, and the word is heard more and more in daily conversation. So what is stress exactly, and is it really so bad?

Stress is an automatic response to any challenge or stimulus that a person feels. It is the state of arousal that the body uses to respond to these.

When we are faced with a situation that causes us to feel challenged, our natural reaction is to either fight or flee. Our bodies produce adrenalin and the blood pumps into our arms and legs to prepare us for a reaction.

Stress is luckily not just a negative reaction. Positive stress can give energy, confidence and elation. This is due to the hormone “Noradrenalin”, a type of adrenalin. This is known as EUSTRESS.

However, over time, a continuous supply of “good” stress can also cause the negative reactions in our bodies that we associate with stress.

So why do we get stressed?

It could be a feeling of lack of control in our lives. Energy and adrenalin builds up when we cannot discharge it in either fight or flight. It is linked to personality, and is individually perceived.

Some reasons for stress may be issues or conflicts at work or at home, a lack of exercise, relationships, one’s emotions, a noisy or busy environment, diet, financial problems, or major life events (divorce, marriage, moving, etc.).

One thing is for sure – the response to these issues is automatic, and affects your body, mind and personality.

How do you recognise stress?

Some physical signals are: asthma, back pain, digestive problems, headaches, migraines, muscle pains, sexual disorders and skin problems. Some behavioral signals are: emotional outbursts, leaving jobs undone, doing 2 or more things at one time, eating while working, talking too fast, too loud, too aggressively, swearing, interrupting others, not listening, falling asleep in meetings, losing your sense of humour, and overreactions.

Some mood signals are: irritability, impatience, restlessness, frustration, anger, apathy, boredom, helplessness and even hopelessness.

So now we know how it shows up. But the real question is of course what can we do about it?

Well, the first thing is to recognize that it is a chemical reaction in the body that leads to changes in your body, mind and personality. So, calm down, assume control, try to find jobs that you enjoy, change what you can at home or at work and be more assertive.

You may be able to organize your work better, improve your environment, and also very important is to talk about it.

Make sure you eat and exercise well, and that you find time to relax more. Even taking up painting or music has been shown to help de-stress people. The key is finding balance in everyday life.

If you find yourself in a stressful situation, one small exercise may help calm you down by relaxing your muscles:
Raise your shoulders as high as possible, keep for 10 seconds, then relax;
Tighten the muscles in your upper and lower legs and feet for 10 seconds, then relax;
Pull your shoulders back, tighten your stomach muscles for 10 seconds, then relax.

In conclusion, it is very often our own attitude that we need to review. So try to separate your need for perfection in your work life from your home life, and ask yourself what really makes you happy.

Try not to compare yourself to others and don’t try to change others. Finally, be open to finding help from friends and family (who would also benefit if you are less stressed).

© Christine Petersen

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