I Failed to Handle Stress, But It’s Not Bad
Stress is like a helpful friend who assists in grasping lessons just before exams
I had thought that time was running like a wild horse, but after a while, it’s ticking very slowly.
My heart is slowly rising higher and higher; my legs are in vibrator mode, and my stomach is filled with butterflies.
I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.
In and out!
Three more times.
Nope! It didn’t work. I still felt the same.
Yes, I was stressed out.
Reason? Not a big thing! Just a normal job interview.
I had thought that I could handle stress better, but sometimes I have to accept the reality that I can’t.
This is not necessarily a bad thing; actually, stress helps us a lot in important situations.
But what is stress? Why is stress good? If it is good, why shouldn’t you have it long? Read on.
How does it get started?
The amygdala, a tiny part of your brain, acts like an alarm. Whenever you face any threat, the amygdala sends signals to other parts of your brain through hormones and neurotransmitters.
Stress is a biological reaction that occurs during any uncomfortable situation.
At the time of stress, your brain releases hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These two stress hormones prepare your body to face the difficult situation.
These hormones are responsible for increased heartbeat, breathing rate, and other physiological responses. However, this response is temporary. Once you feel you have control over the situation, it will ease.
So far, there is nothing wrong.
However, the problem arises when cortisol stays for a longer period. This can lead to high blood pressure, diabetes, sleep apnea, and other health issues.
Like in life, too much of anything is not good, and stress is no exception.
Stress and Anxiety is there a difference?
Yes, there is a clear difference between stress and anxiety. Stress mostly happens due to some external situation, and once it is resolved, the stress typically goes away.
For instance, you might feel stressed out before a job interview, a presentation in front of people, exams, etc. Once the situation is over, your stress will go away, and you will feel normal.
On the other hand, anxiety is harder to identify. Stress might have started it, but you still don’t feel better even when the stressful situation is over. Anxiety can last without an obvious reason, affecting how you feel.
Does good stress exist?
As I mentioned before, a small amount of stress can be good. But how does it actually help us?
In 1998, thirty thousand adults from across the United States were asked about their experiences with stress and whether they believed it was harmful to their health.
Eight years later, researchers again surveyed these participants to see how their health had changed over time.
The results were surprising. Participants who reported high levels of stress and believed it was harmful had a 43% increased risk of dying during the follow-up period.
However, those who had high levels of stress but did not see it as harmful did not show an increased risk of dying.
Let’s look at another interesting study.
Researchers at the University of Berkeley investigated the effects of brief stressful events on lab rats. They found that these stressful events caused the stem cells in the rats’ brains to produce new nerve cells.
After two weeks, the rats that experienced stress showed improved mental performance compared to those that did not.
So, we can confidently say that short-lived stress can actually help us perform better. If we view stress as a positive thing, it can be a catalyst for our success.
Having too much stress?
If you feel that stress is not short-lived, and it affects your daily life, you need to handle it differently. Practicing mindfulness is one way to do it, but you have to remember that it is a gradual and long process.
Doing meditation for just three days won’t change much; you need to practice it daily to see significant results.
On a daily basis, I follow this simple 4:4:7 breathing exercise. It reduces your heart rate and slows your breathing, helping you feel calmer.
Close your eyes and take a slow, deep breath for a count of four.
Hold your breath for a count of four.
Slowly exhale for a count of seven
Repeat this cycle five to seven times.
Feeling nervous before important situations is natural; think of it as your hidden superpower to conquer events.
A small amount of stress always acts as your friend, and it naturally fades away once the situation eases. If you allow it to stay longer, then it becomes your biggest rival.
Be smart and practice mindfulness exercises every day.
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