Why stress is good for you?

Stress is often seen as a negative experience for the human body, and there is plenty of science to back the toxicity of being overstressed.  Actually, though, some stress is healthy for the body and your mental health.  Science supports that some stress at a balanced level can help keep us alert and help improve our memory.  You are likely to be less alert if you do not have some stress, which could negatively impact you.  For example, if you are walking out into stress and a car will hit you, stress would help you be alert and hopefully move out of the way of the car. Without that stress, you would likely not be alert and could get really hurt. 

Stress is also closely associated with motivation and purpose.  Stress can be seen as the drive that helps us go after what we are passionate about and/or care about.  For example, if you have a project due and feel some stress, stress helps drive you to take the project seriously and follow through with the steps to get it done.  On the opposite end, if you do not have stress in certain areas that you care about, that can lead to depression and cause you to be somewhat stagnant.  So be mindful of allowing yourself to feel some stress to avoid becoming too stagnant.  As you do that, try to see the full picture of the stress you are feeling and the purpose it could have by being there. 

As you think about how stress can be good for you, make sure to be mindful of toxic stress.  Like anything, stress can increase to an unhealthy and toxic level. If you can be mindful of the purpose of the stress, that can help keep in check and hopefully keep it from getting to a toxic level. Be on the lookout for the signs of toxic stress such as increased panic, overeating or undereating, lack of sleep, feeling overwhelmed, among other symptoms.  If you can keep in mind a healthy balance that can hopefully help you live out the purpose of your stress.