The “S” Word and Why It Might Not Always Be a Bad Thing
The “S” word most of us don’t like doesn’t refer to a curse word. It’s (don’t gasp, I’m going to say it) the word “stress.”
Yes, stress. (Oooh, I said it twice.) You instantly cringed inside, didn’t you?
We spend so much of our lives being told stress is bad. Get rid of it. Here’s a meditation app. Try some yoga. Ahh, calming music and a nature walk. Stress is spiking your cortisol levels and causing insomnia. You have to lower those levels!
But what if we flipped the script? What if — hear me out — we fought stress with stress?
Two Types of Stress
Did you know there are two types of stress that affect your body? I know, I know, you’re thinking, “Only two? I have two of them in my house right now!”
I mean the official categories. There’s the one most people think of when they hear the word stress: distress. However, there’s another entire category that your body responds to in positive ways: eustress.
Understanding Eustress
Eustress is a type of stress that is actually beneficial to a person. It can motivate you or enhance your overall well-being. You’ll know it’s “eustress” and not “distress” because even though it may add more to your plate, you’re excited about it or anticipating the changes that come with it.
Examples might be a new and better job — yes, the learning curve is challenging and you may have some bumps in the road while you’re waiting for the next paycheck or leaving your favorite co-workers behind, but the main thing you feel is excitement. Or, you’re starting a business as a solopreneur, and the mountains you’ll climb are mighty, but that sense of accomplishment is worth every bit of the effort. In a smaller example, you know you need to work out today, but you just don’t feel like it. You pushed through, made it through your whole routine, and now your mind and body are exhilarated. You’re super proud of yourself, and you should be.
Those are eustress activities. Think of the word euphoria, defined as “a feeling or state of intense excitement and happiness.” Both eustress and euphoria have the same root. When you use eustress correctly, it puts you on the path to your own personal euphoria — making you feel alive, optimistic, creative, and excited about life again.
The Conversation Between Your Brain and Nervous System
Recognizing them is crucial because when you’re overloaded with stress already, then you have a potential opportunity to receive some good stress, your gut instinct is to push it away. No. I can’t possibly do anything else. However, that good stress activity may be just what you need to handle the rest of the stuff on your plate.
Both types of stress activate the same biological response: the fight-or-flight-or-freeze. This action stems from the amygdala and triggers the nervous system to release stress hormones.
Basically, your brain and nervous system “talk” to each other.
Nervous system: Are we in danger?
Brain: Not sure yet, still processing.
Nervous system: Freaking out! Red alert! Send out the forces! The epinephrine! The norepinephrine! The cortisol! The police!
Brain: False alarm, it’s just a spider.
Nervous system: *faints*
The Battle Is On
A little humor there, but the facts stay the same. There’s a conversation between your brain and nervous system, and turning distress into eustress can require you to hijack that conversation and use those released hormones for good things.
When you’re stressed and overwhelmed, look for ways you can release the stress hormones in positive ways. You’re full of adrenaline — study for a test, work out, take a walk, organize the pantry, throw out the dozens of plastic containers without matching lids! (Okay, that one might be a little too far.)
You might not be able to get rid of all the causes of your distress, but when you combat them with eustress situations, you can reduce the damage they do to your mental and physical health.
Eustress can increase mental resilience, equipping you for challenges in the future.
With eustress, you can train your hormones to view a new challenge as exciting instead of threatening. That long-distance car trip you need to take by yourself? It’s an adventure!
Consistent rewiring matters. Remind yourself that things rarely go as horribly as you imagine. Every time you take a challenging situation and get through it successfully, let it build your confidence!
Eustress, harnessed, can boost motivation and performance, helping you reach your target goals faster, perform better under pressure, and propel yourself forward. The key is to stay balanced. Don’t turn those goals into burnout. Keep downtime in your day, set realistic goals, and look at new obstacles as exercises that build your resiliency muscles.
The next time you want to get rid of distress, try to find a challenging, enjoyable way to swap it with eustress. You might just find your life looks a little more interesting and feels a bit thrilling. You adrenaline junkie, you.
