Stress is not considered healthy and there are many ways and means to control it, but being stressed is not always bad. According to experts, your body’s fight-or-flight response is protective, not harmful.

And so, good stress — also known as eustress — is the positive stress response that involves optimal levels of arousal that highly benefit your brain and body. The American Psychological Association says that this stress, which results from doing something demanding, can be enjoyable

How can stress be positive?,

Mental health experts say that short-term responses to stress help you cope with anxiety and sometimes depression. Stress can be beneficial in several ways:

It helps to boost your brain

Low levels of stress can activate the production of brain chemicals called neurotrophins and strengthen connections between neurons in the brain, leading to increased productivity and concentration.

Experts say that if you doubt the health benefits of stress on your brain, self-evaluate your performance on days when you experience more stress at work. According to studies, you may be more focused and productive than on days with less stress.

Increases immunity levels

Your body’s response to stress is similar to that caused by an injury or infection, and so it produces chemicals called interleukins, which are chemicals that help regulate the immune system.

Makes you flexible and tough

Stressful situations can make you stronger and adaptable to many future circumstances, because it gives you a sense of physical and psychological control.

Motivates you and helps you succeed

Stress and tension can challenge you to give your best in certain situations. And therefore, it motivates your behavior to actually manage the situation effectively, faster, and more productively.

Enhances the growth of children

Even though increased levels of stress can have a negative impact on both mother and baby, most expectant mothers do everything possible to stay healthy and reduce stress and anxiety during pregnancy. Studies show that moderate levels of stress during pregnancy do not harm the baby. They develop developmental skills by the age of 15 years faster than children born to stress-free mothers.

Good vs. Bad Stress

Experts say it is important to understand that if you don’t recognise stress and treat it properly, it can kill you. You may suffer from chronic stress – the bad kind – that dominates your thoughts day in and day out – leading to anxiety, fatigue, high blood pressure, depression, etc.

Therefore, it is important to differentiate between good and bad stress and take adequate steps to treat it before it becomes dangerous.

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