Q: Are there different types of stress and is there such thing as a good stress?
Typically, when we think of stress we think of emotional stress. You can also have physical stress such as pressure or tension. For example, building muscle is created by time under tension or the ‘stress’ required to create a diamond.
That being said, primarily, when we are talking about stress we’re talking about emotional stress. Consider stress as a spectrum, on one end of the spectrum you have eustress or positive stress and on the other end of this spectrum is distress. The American psychology Association defines distress by three different types. The different types include acute stress, acute episodic stress and chronic stress. Acute stress is typically a single episode, such as an argument, an exam or a deadline at work. Acute stress could be considered positive as it could be a motivator for you or give you a boost of adrenaline.
When you have multiple occurrences of those episodes it becomes acute episodic stress. This type could look like a stressful job or a stressful relationship. Multiple episodes of stress overtime lead to negative consequences. You may always feel rushed or always feel under pressure. Some people with a type-A personality are so accustomed to this type of lifestyle that they seek out stressful situations. This lifestyle can lead to chronic stress which means you are under stress for a prolonged period of time. This could also go to the extreme of a traumatic childhood or abusive relationship where you endure stress day after day. Stress compounds over time because people are not taught how to manage stressors in their life. Chronic stress leads to many health implications, including the 6 leading causes of death among adults in the United States. These include coronary artery disease,
Each time you encounter stress, your body has a stress response, otherwise known as fight or flight. Unfortunately, your body doesn’t differentiate between types of stress, so whether you are walking down a dark alley and someone comes out to attack you or you have a deadline at work, our body responds the same way. When the stress response is activated, your body releases cortisol and epinephrine. You experience an increased heart rate in order to pump those chemicals through your body as well as to get blood to your heart and your vital organs as quickly as possible. Unfortunately glucose and fats are also released into the bloodstream so that you have the energy to fight or flee. In certain circumstances that is really beneficial, however, in our civilized world those reactions are much less necessary.
Persistent epinephrine can damage blood vessels and arteries and increases your blood pressure which raises your risk of heart attack and stroke. Persistent elevated cortisol contributes to the buildup of fat tissue and weight gain due to the chronic release of glucose and fat.
It is reasonable to say that you should be mindful about the stressors that you are encountering each day. Not only does research indicate that stress contributes to the six leading causes of death, it can also create other consequences and inhibit your weight loss abilities. Learning to manage your stress response is critical for your overall health. Learn to control what you can and let go of the rest. Easier said than done, I know. My primary focus in 2021 is to help you learn stress management techniques in your life. What strategies have you found successful in your own stress management?