Introduction

Stress is an unavoidable part of life, manifesting in various forms, from daily challenges to unexpected events. While some stress, known as eustress, can motivate and inspire growth, chronic stress can lead to significant health problems, including inflammation. Understanding how stress impacts the body and recognizing which stress management techniques work best can help prevent long-term health issues. This section delves into the relationship between stress and inflammation, the differences in perception, and practical ways to manage stress effectively.

Stress Is Everywhere

It's unavoidable. Even when you think of the most stress-free things in life, there are still concerns. If you go to the beach on vacation, you take your stress on vacation too: you're concerned about the cost of the trip, getting sun poisoning, or if there are sharks in the water waiting for an ankle to gnaw. Stress! It's everywhere.

Eustress is Actually Good

Eustress. Sometimes, stress is a good thing. Good stress is called eustress (pronounced You-Stress, which is ironic). Good stress is when you get excited by a challenge:

• When you get a promotion and have exciting new responsibilities.
• When you get a new cookbook, buy all the ingredients to try a complicated dish.
• When you visit a new city, you must learn your way around it.

None of these things are stress-free, but when something provides excitement or a fun challenge, that's eustress.

The Good Thing About Eustress

The good thing about eustress and other stressors is that they help us grow. Most people think it'd be nice if all the stress went away. But if all the stress disappeared, we'd never have new experiences or become the best version of ourselves. Stress is a good thing until it piles up and we can't respond effectively anymore; then, it starts to cause harm.

Stress Is Not The Same For Everyone

We aren't all the same. We have different strengths, weaknesses, and skill sets. Thus, what might be stressful for some people is manageable for others. It all comes down to our perception, the particular way we experience things. However, polls show that most people in modern society find work the most stressful thing, followed by money, job stability, and health issues about themselves and their families. People are also stressed about time and relationships.

Stress Associated With Inflammation

You guessed it. Stress is associated with higher levels of inflammation in the body. Scientists have studied the blood of people who were stressed at work or stressed from being unemployed. They've studied the blood of people who were stressed due to finances, relationships, discrimination, or because they're caring full-time for a loved one with dementia. It doesn't matter what the stressor is; what matters is that it causes the body harm, and their blood shows it. A new field of study called psychoneuroendocrinology is studying how our minds, nervous systems, and hormones interact. These scientists are starting to unravel how stress makes us sick.

What Can You Do About Stress?

What can you do? Most of the things we do to manage stress don't work! But we keep doing them anyway. We overeat, drink margaritas, shop, gamble, shout at someone, gossip, and feed the rumor mill. These things feel good for a minute but don't reduce our stress. All the things that battle stress are dull, but they work.

Stress Busters

1. Pay attention to what stresses you out and how you respond. Most of us make our stress worse instead of better (angry outbursts, a spending spree, forming a coalition, and talking bad about someone). Next time you're stressed out, try to observe your behavior. Is it helping? Or making it worse? Try to break the cycle and try something new.
2. Move your body. We just discussed exercise, but it can't be said enough. Moving your body changes your brain. It changes how you perceive stress and how you deal with it. Do yoga, go on a walk, sprint until you fall over, walk up and down the stairs, put on loud music, and dance like crazy. Just DO something.
3. Quiet your mind. Start your day with some practice to quiet your mind and find hope. You could meditate, practice mindfulness, recite inspirational quotes, watch funny YouTube videos, do breathwork, pray, journal, or read something deeply inspirational. All of these things work. They help put our minds at a better starting point for the day. Some of the practices, like meditation, actually change how your mind works all day long.
4. Talk to a friend. Just be careful-some friends make stress worse. Some make it better. Sometimes, having a friend agree with you is exactly what you need. Sometimes, you need a friend who will challenge you with your behavior. Find a friend, but choose wisely.