HSI Stress Management – Health Science Index

HSI Reduce stress

Good stress may be harnessed for achievement

If unresolved, bad stress can contribute to disease and even death

Americans are some of the most stressed-out people in the world. Whether it’s related to an issue at work, a fight with a friend, or problems with family, everyone feels stressed sometimes. In fact, 54 percent of Americans are concerned about the level of stress in their daily lives. And while therapy can help, most solutions are dealt with in the long-term.

According to Gallup’s annual Global Emotions report. For the report, Gallup polled about 1,000 adults in countries around the world last year about the emotions they’d experienced the day before the survey. Negative emotions and experiences — stress, anger, worry, sadness and physical pain — were common around the world, tying 2017’s record-setting levels, the report found.

Good Stress that’s useful

“Good stress,” or what psychologists refer to as “eustress,” is the type of stress we feel when we feel excited. Our pulse quickens and our hormones surge, but there is no threat or fear. We feel this type of stress when we ride a roller coaster, compete for a promotion, or go on a first date.

Bad Stress

Bad stress exhibits certain features:
Bad, unresolved stress lasts a long time
It is chronic
May remain unseen, but is ongoing
It is negative, depressing, and demoralizing
This type of stress de-motivates and can paralyze you
Unresolved stress breaks you down — it leaves you worse off than you were before.

So what can be done to help you reduce—and prevent—stress?

Here are some ways to decrease unwanted, excess stress.

Try progressive relaxation. All the way from fingers to toes—tense and then release each muscle group in the body. Once the body is relaxed, the mind will soon follow.
Try some yoga. The combination of deep breathing techniques and poses makes this activity work to reduce stress, too
Meditate. The “mental silence” that goes along with meditation may have positive effects on stress (especially work-related stress)
Breathe deep. Taking a deep breath has been shown to lower cortisol levels, which can help reduce stress and anxiety. Studies suggest deep breathing can also cause a temporary drop in blood pressure