Eustress (Yoo-Stres)
Are You Feeling Stressed?
Silly question, I know. More than half (55%) of Americans reported feeling stress a lot during the previous day according to the 2019 Gallup Global Emotions report. That data does not reflect the COVID-19 pandemic, major shifts in home and work life for millions of Americans, the 2020 US Presidential election or increasing conflict over societal disparity and how it should be addressed.
First, what is stress? According to Merriam-Webster, stress is “a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation”.
Stress is a normal part of life. It effects your body, mood and behavior. Some examples of stress effecting your body include headache, muscle tension or pain, fatigue, change in sex drive, sleep problems, and stomach upset. Anxiety, agitation, lack of focus, anger, or depression are how stress effects your mood. While these symptoms of stress sound unpleasant, not all stress is bad. A sense of pressure will activate your body’s fight or flight response releasing epinephrine (adrenaline) into the bloodstream. This response raises heart rate, blood pressure, increases blood flow and thus oxygen and glucose (the body’s fuel) to the brain, lungs and muscles. It may help you complete an important project by a deadline or even escape a physically dangerous situation. Eustress is a moderate or normal amount of psychological stress which is beneficial for you.
However, too much of anything is bad. Persistent stress can lead to those symptoms mentioned above and harm digestion, the immune system, and cardiovascular health. Additionally, some research suggests your mindset about stress may relate to your experience. A study by Huebschmann and Sheets (2020) found that participants with a “stress-is-enhancing” mindset were less likely to develop depressive and anxiety symptoms compared to those with a “stress-is-debilitating” mindset.
So, what can we do about it? Let’s face it, stress is not going anywhere. If we cannot change the existence of stress, we can change our reaction to it. Aside from embracing a stress-is-enhancing mindset, you can take other steps to manage stress. Regular exercise (30 minutes most days of the week) can help release some of the negative consequences of stress and enhance your mood. Taking time to relax such as meditation or deep breathing exercises can help calm the fight or flight response and reset your body. Making reasonable to-do lists and setting priorities can help prevent being over committed. If you are over committed, reaching out for support from your friends and family is a good step to take. Social connection is very important to our health, and people like helping others. Lastly, if these do-it-yourself interventions are not enough to manage the stress you are under, call your primary care provider or seek the help of another health care professional. You are not alone in feeling stressed, and you will be okay.
If your health, or that of a loved-one, is causing you stress, having a health advocate may help. To learn more, contact Vea Health Consulting.
Kate Bender is a dual-certified Psychiatric Mental Health and Adult Nurse Practitioner. She knows, firsthand, life is messy and hard. Sometimes people need support and help from a professional. When working with Kate, your mental health will be compassionately addressed in a manner that honors your mind, body, and spirit. She lives with her family on the shoreline in Old Saybrook, Connecticut.