Perhaps, you’ve never heard anyone say that they’re excited about stress, or that it brings any positive emotions. We are used to thinking of stress as something bad, and the reason is that it can actually cause many problems.
Stress can make you feel drained and unmotivated. It can lead to insomnia, headaches, muscle tension, chest pains, and many other physical symptoms, having a significant negative impact on one’s quality of life and productivity. Stress is also one of the key risk factors when it comes to mental health problems.
Although all of these facts about stress are true, it’s important to keep in mind that these are the symptoms of long-term or chronic stress. When it comes to stress, a lot depends on how long it lasts, how intense it is, and what caused it. In fact, you would likely feel unhappy if you didn’t experience any stress whatsoever.
Stress can actually be beneficial for your mental health, and you can enjoy it. Whenever you feel excited or become immersed in an engaging activity, you experience positive stress, also known as eustress. In this article, we will consider some examples of eustress and its benefits, as well as the key differences between the good and bad kinds of stress.
Distress vs. Eustress
Distress is the negative type of stress — we are all familiar with it. When we experience distress, we feel overwhelmed. Quite often, distress is caused by significant negative life events, traumas, and health issues. For instance, one may experience distress when being fired from a job or after being diagnosed with a dangerous illness.
The truth about the bad kind of stress is that it can actually be useful when dealing with dangerous situations. Stress is your body’s reaction that evolved specifically to help you deal with threats. When the stress response occurs, all of your senses become sharper, and your body enters survival mode, getting ready for quick action.
The problem is that the human brain may trigger the same powerful response when the situation isn’t really dangerous. For example, you may get stressed out when arguing with your partner or having too much urgent work. As a result, many people experience stress regularly.
The Severity of Stress
Many mental health issues exist on a scale. For instance, a person can demonstrate certain antisocial traits that have little impact on their and other people’s lives. A high-functioning sociopath may demonstrate a higher degree of antisocial behavior, while other sociopaths can be hostile and therefore have too many problems when it comes to social situations.
Similarly, not all people with depression are always in a bad mood or sad. While some people may experience mild depressive episodes and lose interest in their regular activities, those with severe depression may engage in self-harm behavior and even consider suicide.
When it comes to stress, the severity of problems caused by it directly depends on how often you experience it. Occasional stress is inevitable so our bodies are well-adapted to it. Your body has the necessary mechanisms to slow down your nervous system once you’re no longer exposed to the factor that caused stress.
The situation, however, gets much more difficult if you experience stress over and over again. Distress can feel very emotional, but negative emotions aren’t the worst thing about it. Here are some of the common psychological and physiological effects of stress:
- Anxiety;
- Decreased productivity;
- Upset stomach;
- Frequent colds and infections;
- Depression;
- Headaches;
- Insomnia;
- Decreased libido;
- Racing heartbeat;
- Chest pains, etc.
The Good Stress
Nevertheless, stress isn’t always bad. Eustress is the positive type of stress that we experience when facing challenges that are enjoyable and exciting. This good type of stress can be productive, it can increase motivation and help us work toward our goals.
Eustress is all about stepping out of your comfort zone and challenging yourself so it’s an integral part of personal and professional growth. Moreover, it can boost your mood and make you feel generally happier. Eustress creates the feeling of excitement and satisfaction, making your life more meaningful and fulfilling.
This type of stress is very beneficial for mental health, in general. It increases your psychological resilience and autonomy while also helping you build your self-efficacy. Besides, one of the key differences between eustress and distress is that the former makes you feel positive emotions.
Good Stress Examples
We may experience distress in various situations, and the same goes for eustress. You may experience eustress at work or in your relationships with others. For instance, you may take on a challenging project that requires you to improve your existing skills and learn new ones.
However, when dealing with unrealistic goals, tight deadlines, and overwhelming workloads, you’re more likely to experience distress rather than eustress. Therefore, you should make sure that your expectations are realistic and learn to say no when necessary.
New hobbies are another common eustress example. When you start something new, like learning to play a musical instrument or going to the gym, you get out of your comfort zone, which means that you’re also creating opportunities for eustress.
Another common source of eustress is traveling. It’s almost impossible not to get stressed out when visiting new countries: you need to find a nice place to stay, navigate in a completely new environment, and communicate with people who may not know your language. However, it’s definitely a good type of stress as long as it’s accompanied by feelings of excitement and joy.
Turning Distress Into Eustress
Yes, you can turn bad stress into good stress. Although it’s impossible to avoid distress in some cases, there are also many situations in which the kind of stress you experience depends on your perception of the stressor.
Distress is your body’s reaction to what you perceive as a threat, and if you see it as not a threat but a challenge, your stress response will be different. For example, instead of thinking about possible difficulties and failures, you can focus on the resources and skills that you have that might help you accomplish your goal.
Positive affirmations are also a powerful tool that can help you turn negative stress into positive. Remind yourself of your strengths and focus your attention on the positive aspects of the situation. Generally, a positive mindset can help you avoid distress and make you more likely to experience eustress instead.
If you get stressed out too often, it might mean that you’re dealing with chronic stress. In this case, a great solution is to talk to a licensed therapist. They can help you understand why certain situations feel stressful for you and suggest some effective coping practices.
A great thing about therapy is that it can be delivered remotely. Thanks to online platforms like Calmerry, you can talk to a therapist without leaving the comfort of your home. Flexibility is an important factor to consider when choosing between online therapy vs. traditional therapy.
Wrapping Up
Although stress can have a significant negative impact on one’s physical and emotional health, a lot depends on how you perceive the situation. Positive stress, which you may experience when dealing with challenging yet exciting tasks, can actually be beneficial.You can reduce distress and bring more positive stress to your life by focusing on the positive aspects of challenges that you face, and you can also talk to a therapist to get the necessary help in coping with the symptoms of stress. Learn more about therapy so that you will know what to expect from your sessions.
