Researchers tell us that some stress is good for us. It’s called eustress or positive stress. It’s the kind of stress that motivates us to get our goals accomplished, build mental toughness, and pushes us to learn new skills and overcome challenges. When we have too much stress it can lead to burnout and exacerbate health challenges. Today, be aware of the levels of stress you’re feeling. Make written notes of the exact events occurring when you feel the most stress. Review your notes at the end of the day. Are there certain people or situations causing you more stress? It may be time to remove yourself from situations and people who exacerbate your stress.
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Get Healthy: Chronic Stress Is Really Bad for You
Chronic stress is intricately linked to various illnesses, significantly impacting mental health, cognitive functioning, and the onset of chronic diseases. Chronic stress accelerates and exacerbates pre-existing vulnerabilities, leading to mental health issues such as depression, burnout, and post-traumatic stress disorder, and cognitive impairments in populations with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer’s Disease (Marin et al., 2011). The chronicity and controllability of stress play significant roles in stress-illness relationships, with chronic stressors leading to greater health detriments compared to episodic stressors, as evidenced by their effects on psychosomatic symptoms and depression (Gannon & Pardie, 1989). Chronic stress has been linked to an increased risk of developing depression or anxiety, type 2 diabetes, cancer, coronary heart disease, circulatory disease, asthma, and emphysema, highlighting the need for interventions that address chronic stress to prevent the onset and exacerbation of these conditions (Renzaho et al., 2014).
In summary, chronic stress is a significant factor contributing to the development and exacerbation of various diseases. Addressing chronic stress through targeted interventions could mitigate its impact on health and improve outcomes for individuals experiencing chronic stress-related conditions.
