Lesser-known facts about the father of modern science
Constantly experiencing low levels of stress might make you less likely to take risks, and to try new things, including achieving some of your goals.
When you overcome a stressful event, you feel like you have accomplished something and, therefore, your life will feel more meaningful.
You will better know your coping resources, consequently making you less stressed about certain events.
If you experience stressful events, you will learn from them and develop coping mechanisms. In short, you will know that if the same thing happens again, you can deal with it.
Stressful events can make you better adjusted to cope with stress in the future, and help ease its negative effects.
Good stress will give you the confidence to take on bigger challenges. “If I can do x, then I can do y.”
Your heart racing before speaking in public? The rush of chemicals in your body? These are all mechanisms triggered by stress that are actually designed to make you succeed.
The difference is that they can be triggered by distress or by eustress. The latter will make use of these stress responses instead of them just being a result of you feeling overwhelmed.
Yes, the right amount of stress can get you “in the zone.” Think of things such as running a marathon or taking an exam–these are stressful events that will make you focus and perform.
While the common stresses of daily modern life are unlikely to affect your kids’ development, chronic stress, on the other hand, can indeed be harmful.
Being pregnant can be stressful at times, but the good news is that occasional acute stress is not necessarily a bad thing for the fetus.
Think about a work or school deadline. Many people work better if they have limited time to finish a task.
This type of stress actually creates new neural pathways and stimulates endorphin release (feel-good hormones).
According to a study, “manageable levels of life stress may enhance psychobiological resilience to oxidative damage.”
"Biologically, the exposure to moderate stress causes an increase in the generation of specialized cells that participate in memorizing the stressful event," says neuroscientist Daniela Kaufer, PhD, acting associate dean and professor at University of California, Berkeley.
While chronic stress can be a killer, the right amount of eustress can actually stop you from getting sick.
It is possible that the same happens to humans. The right amount of stress has an impact on alertness and performance, and the growth of new brain cells might play a role here.
If an event is stressful, you’re more likely to remember it. Experiencing moderate stress can help you remember a specific situation.
"If we appraise the situation as challenging but manageable, then the arousal helps us focus and direct effort toward addressing the challenge,” pointed Bethany Teachman, PhD, a professor of psychology at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
This has been very important for our evolution as a species. If you remember a dangerous situation, you’re more likely to avoid the same situation in the future.
Have you ever been through a stressful situation and felt sharp and energized? This would be a challenging yet exciting situation, such as performing on a stage or starting a new job.
Good stress, known as "eustress," can give you a boost of energy. This positive form of stress can arouse your body and mind.
A 2013 study on rats found that a brief stressful situation (the animals were stuck in their cage for a few hours) doubled the growth of new brain cells and improved memory.
Exposure to stressful events can help you develop a sense of control, which will make you better prepared to deal with future stressful events.
Stress has a bad reputation. When we talk about stress, usually bad things come to mind. Anxiety, burnout, and overall negative health effects are associated with it. Chronic stress is indeed dangerous and pretty bad for your health, but not all stressful events are created equal. Stress affects our lives in different ways, and while too much for too long is usually harmful, it turns out that just the right amount of stress can actually be good for us!
Curious to learn how stress can be good for you? Click through the following gallery to find out!
In fact, a study has found that “mild to moderate levels of maternal psychological stress during pregnancy may actually enhance fetal maturation.”
Short-term stress will help you focus on the task at hand, and channel your energy towards one direction. This is why some people work better under pressure.
Stress can make you less fearful of change. When you can go through stressful events and overcome them, you see that change is not a bad thing, that you can actually deal with it, and even thrive!
Stress has a bad reputation. When we talk about stress, usually bad things come to mind. Anxiety, burnout, and overall negative health effects are associated with it. Chronic stress is indeed dangerous and pretty bad for your health, but not all stressful events are created equal. Stress affects our lives in different ways, and while too much for too long is usually harmful, it turns out that just the right amount of stress can actually be good for us!
Curious to learn how stress can be good for you? Click through the following gallery to find out!
How stress can be good for you
Stress is not always a bad thing
LIFESTYLE Mental health
Stress has a bad reputation. When we talk about stress, usually bad things come to mind. Anxiety, burnout, and overall negative health effects are associated with it. Chronic stress is indeed dangerous and pretty bad for your health, but not all stressful events are created equal. Stress affects our lives in different ways, and while too much for too long is usually harmful, it turns out that just the right amount of stress can actually be good for us!
Curious to learn how stress can be good for you? Click through the following gallery to find out!