5 Why and How On Managing Stress for Positive Change

(Last Updated On: September 16, 2021)

Managing stress for positive change is a great thing for success in life. We frequently hear that stress is harmful to one’s health, and this is simply true. Experts believe that stress is to blame for many of the life-threatening ailments that individuals are suffering from modern days. People find it tricky managing stress for positive change in life.

However, few people realize that stress may be beneficial to your health. There are some positive stresses that can help you reach your goals. It’s not necessarily a terrible thing to get stirred up. After all, the body’s basic stress reaction is designed to protect it rather than harm it.

The only time stress has a detrimental impact on your health and overall well-being is when it becomes chronic. Here are five surprising ways that short-term anxiety might be beneficial to you and your health.

What is Positive Stress and How Can It Help You?

Positive stress, also known as pleasant stress or eustress, is the sort of stress that we experience when we become enthusiastic. Positive stress may also refer to the occasions when you respond favorably to a stressor-induced difficulty.

Going rock climbing for the first time, wanting to get promoted at work, and going on a first date are all examples of positive stress. The consequences of positive stress are what characterize it. We are able to live outside of our comfort zones because of these stresses.

Much of what distinguishes happiness from bad stress is subjective. For it to be called good stress, there must be some amount of enthusiasm involved. For some people, rock climbing may be so scary and overpowering that they become paralyzed. For another, it might be a pleasant challenge for them to grow as a person.

What are some examples of positive stress?

An impending wedding, the holidays, or pregnancy are examples of positive stresses (also known as eustress).

Negative stress (also known as anguish), on the other hand, triggers the full-fledged stress response. Negative stress may lead to a loss of productivity, health difficulties, and tiredness if it is not addressed.

What is the difference between good and negative stress?

Stress is a physiological and psychological response that people have in response to their environment. Eustress refers to good, motivating stress that improves performance, whereas distress refers to negative, overpowering stress that hinders functioning. Let’s find reasons why managing stress for positive change is essential for you

1. Stress might boost your immune system’s readiness.

One of the most important roles of stress is to prepare your body for infection. When you’re stressed, your body generates more interleukins or molecules that aid in immune system regulation. Interleukins can give your immune system a boost for a short period of time, just enough to keep illness at bay.

As a response to modest stress, rats produced a huge deployment of different immune cells in their bloodstreams, according to a Stanford study published in 2012. Corticosterone, a hormone that aids in antibody response, was also released as a result of the low-level stress. This is an example of positive stresses that can help you reach your goals.

2. Stress can help you think more clearly.

When you’re in a stressful circumstance, your body releases hormones in your brain that assist you to cope. Stress can promote the synthesis of neurotrophins at low levels. These substances aid in the strengthening of brain neuron connections.

These are the same chemicals released by the brain when you exercise, which is another type of physical stressor. In the meanwhile, animal studies show that even high levels of stress can temporarily improve memory.

If you’re worried about an impending test or a job presentation, remember that the tension you’re experiencing is simply your body’s way of ensuring that you’ll do well.

3. You’re more likely to succeed if you’re under a lot of stress.

Eustress is a term used in the scientific community to describe pleasant or healthy stress. Eustress, according to scientists, can increase your feeling of alertness and attention.

When you’re working, participating in sports, or studying, for example, eustress might motivate you to achieve with the positive stress which promotes growth and accomplishments and stimulates you to go on.

When confronted with a deadline, for example, positive stress may boost your behavior, allowing you to manage the issue more effectively, with greater attention and productivity.

Stress hormones can fuel your body in a life-or-death basketball game, allowing you to run faster, leap higher, and have a better chance of hitting that game-winning shot.

4. Child Development Can Be Boosted by Stress

Low levels of stress appear to be beneficial to youngsters as well. Most expectant mothers are concerned that their personal stress may negatively influence the kid in their womb. Yes, it is possible, but only if the stress is long-term. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University discovered in a 2006 study that women who reported mild to moderate stress during their pregnancy had children with higher developmental skills by their second year than moms-to-be who did not report any stress at all.

5. Stress Aids in the Development of Resilience

Exposure to difficult events on a regular basis gives you a sense of control, both physically and psychologically. This is a concept that is taught in Navy SEAL training.

While most individuals would prefer little or no stress, stress may actually help you learn how to deal with challenging situations so that future ones are simpler to handle.

Stress, it’s reasonable to say, provides you mental fortitude, so that when a harder circumstance arises, you won’t quickly shut down, but instead, emerge victorious with the positive stress which promotes growth and accomplishments and stimulates you to go on.

How to find ways for managing stress for positive change

You probably already incorporate good stress into your life, but here are some suggestions for managing stress for positive change:

At work, push yourself. Take on additional responsibilities and ask your supervisor how you can become more active. If available, you can also apply for promotions. You don’t want to overdo it, so be cautious if you start to feel pressured at work.
Your body should be pushed. If you don’t already do so, begin an exercise routine. Running and weightlifting are excellent ways to add physical stress to your life.
You’ll also be able to track your physical and mental health progress.
Take up a new task. If you have a lot of spare time on your hands, consider learning a new skill that triggers a stress reaction. Even basic tasks may provide you with a plethora of possibilities to challenge your mind.
Read. Learn something new or come across thoughts that challenge your perspective on the world.

Take away

You’ve probably heard a thousand times that stress is bad for you, yet according to the data above, stress might really be beneficial — but only in the short term.

It’s important to understand that when the body reacts to a situation with stress, it’s to defend the body rather than to harm it. As a result, don’t constantly be stressed out by stress, but understand that it may also be beneficial to your health by managing stress for positive change.