Is There Really Good stress?

Good stress (also called eustress) - Can it actually help you? It seems the answer is yes -- but....

Hans Selye, considered the grandfather of stress studies, stated that we need some stress to lead a fulfilling life. Having no stress at all leads to a boring life, resulting in the need to look for stimulation - often in the wrong places, such as substance abuse or crime.

Eustress is that short burst of energy that gets our "creative juices" going. It's the excitement during a close basketball game, or the jitters before a performance, a test or a race. It's generally short-lived. It's that fight or flight reaction that increases energy, focus, memory, and strengthens the immune system. Any of this short-term stress could be considered good for you if it acts as a diversion from your normal daily stress.

It's important to note that eustress is short-lived. It is meant to be a short response, and then there is to be a recovery period.

Archibald Hart (The Anxiety Cure) states that any stress that is prolonged is harmful to you - whether it's the "good" kind or the "bad" kind. That's because stress upsets the balance of hormones throughout your entire body and brain. When the stress doesn't turn off as it is meant to do after the initial need is over, it turns into something harmful, even causing permanent, life-changing damage.

So, yes, there is stress that is good and can help you. It can improve performance by increasing concentration and focus. But only if it is short-lived. The important aspect of any stress is keeping it short and then recovering.

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