By Marie Miguel. Marie Miguel has been a writing and research expert for nearly a decade, covering a variety of health- related topics. Currently, she is contributing to the expansion and growth of a free online mental health resource with BetterHelp.com. With an interest and dedication to addressing stigmas associated with mental health, she continues to specifically target subjects related to anxiety and depression.
Make Your Stress Work for You
Everyone has had to deal with stress at one time in their lives and some of us deal with it on a daily basis, especially at work. Whether you are a doctor, teacher, or a factory worker, everyone has stress at work. And we all know that when we are stressed, it sure does not feel good. You may start feeling shaky, nervous, dizzy, scared, angry, or even get nauseous or pass out. Believe it or not, there is a difference between good stress and bad stress. Yes, there is such a thing as good stress. You are probably wondering how stress can be good for you.
The Effects of Stress and Anxiety
Too much stress is definitely not good for you and can cause issues with your mental and physical health. For example, your blood pressure rises, your heartbeat speeds up, you start feeling shaky or nervous, and may get a headache or feel dizzy. Your body’s reaction to stress is normal because this is the brain’s alarm system (the amygdala) letting you know that something is wrong. Your prefrontal cortex and hippocampus are also irritated and will let you know by causing symptoms like nausea or vomiting, confusion, and memory loss.
How Stress Can Be Good for You
Although too much stress is bad for you, some stress is good for you. You have probably noticed that when you are stressed out, you can focus on what is bothering you. For example, if you are anxious about a meeting where you have to give a presentation, you can use that stress to practice and study your presentation and get better at it. Use it to build yourself up and tell yourself that you are awesome and that you are going to do great.
Fight or Flight
Also, your stress will cause that flight or fight response. You just need to make sure that you choose to fight rather than flight. When your blood is pumping and your heart is racing, use that to sharpen your senses and help motivate you to do whatever it is you are anxious about. When you are afraid of doing something, your fear can help you build the strength to beat that fear and once you have overcome that anxiety, you feel even stronger for having beat it. You will be less likely to be afraid of changes or doing things that we have been wary of before because you already did it and you know you can.
When Stress is Too Much
There are times when stress can be too much for you and anxiety can cause you to lose focus of what you are trying to do. It is at these times when you need to reach out for help. Many people do not want to talk to their loved ones about their anxiety and stress because they do not want to worry them or burden them, or they are afraid that the person may think they are weak. You can reach out to a mental health professional at betterhelp.com such as a counselor or therapist who can help you right away. No appointment needed and you can do it from the comfort of your own home. Online therapy is safe and easy to do, less expensive, and you can remain anonymous if you like. Just reach out today and you can start feeling better right away.
