Although much is talked in the media about this condition – normally bad stress – but actually feeling stress is perfectly normal when experiencing things such as exam time. It can be classified into two areas – the good and the bad. Sometimes at work it can be motivating (good stress) but there are times when you may feel incredibly overwhelmed resulting in difficulty in concentrating on anything (bad stress).
Are there benefits?
Yes – It is actually a burst of energy it helps you decide on what to do. In small doses it can help you meet regular challenges providing motivation to reach goals more efficiently. Amazingly it can even boost memory.
We are more aware of this condition when it acts as a warning system – fight or flight that alerts the sensors to danger keeping us safe! In fact the body produces chemicals that create a variety of reactions including increased heart rate and blood pressure.
What are the down sides?
Because we see so much about bad stress in the media we are aware that it can be detrimental to our health. This is especially true if you suffer from stress that is ongoing and prolonged. It causes conditions such as depression, sleeplessness and high blood pressure and can be harmful to your heart.
What is Too Much?
As we are all different and our reactions to it will vary it can be difficult to tell whether you are suffering from the bad or the good. There are some key indicators when you are suffering from too much stress including:
- Difficulty sleeping or feeling sleepy all the time
- Frequent bouts of flu/colds or just generally aching
- Feeling irritable/angry
- Struggling to concentrate
- Eating too much or having no appetite at all
