For most people, stress isn’t just temporary pain; it’s an undeniable way of life. We all know stress can be detrimental to our health – after all, it often makes us feel like the weight of the world is on our shoulders. But how bad is it exactly, and how do we survive what seems like an endless battle?

So, let’s take a look at the dark (and light) side of stress:

First, it’s important to note that not all stress is bad.  Stress is classified into two categories: eustress and distress. Eustress is “good” stress.  It’s a short-term “high” that gives us a sudden surge of motivation and improves our performance. Examples include the feeling you get after earning a promotion or getting a raise.   It may induce the jitters, but eustress often doesn’t seem like stress at all, because it’s all positive in your mind.

The second category is distress, or “bad” stress.  This is the “stressed out” variety of stress.  It causes anxiety and weighs heavily on your body and mind, directly affecting performance.  Drowning in a seemingly insurmountable stream of work, or being stranded on the highway with a flat tire and not knowing how to fix it are examples of distress. Beyond the general bad feeling of these situations, distress is especially harmful on a physiological level because it’s often a long-term effect.

Whenever the body is under any kind of stress, it releases a chemical called cortisol to help deal with the problem. In small doses, cortisol (known as “the stress hormone”) is extremely beneficial. It heightens your awareness, boosts your memory, and generally gives you the ability to tackle whatever triggered your stress reaction. Once you’ve completed the task at hand, your body returns to a relaxed state, and all is well.

If you’re continuously stressed, however (aka you’re under constant distress), the body produces cortisol with no real desire or necessity to vent off the excess. High levels of cortisol in the bloodstream have been linked to a number of maladies, including diminished immunity, high blood pressure, and a general decrease in overall performance. Basically, all the things we feel when we’re extremely stressed.

And, sorry to say … it gets worse! Studies have shown that prolonged accumulation of cortisol can be a catalyst for weight gain in the abdominal area. Fat gained in the gut is known as “toxic fat” because it has been closely linked to the development of cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and strokes.

How do you fight the power (of stress)?

Fortunately, all of the ailments suffered from stress can be remedied with a few simple lifestyle changes.

Get Physical! Burning some calories is a great way to release all that bothersome cortisol.  Beat up on a punching bag, go for a walk, hike or bike ride.

Get Chatty! Recent studies have revealed that a social-support network can aid in the fight against all of the excess cortisol in your body. There’s nothing that combats a stressful workday better than a good venting to your best bud.  Don’t internalize your burdens, no matter how trivial they may seem – your nearest and dearest should be happy to talk you through your stresses!

Get Positive! According to new studies, stress may just be in the eye of the beholder. Relief can be as simple as accepting that stress is a coping mechanism … and as a result, it can lead to numerous positive career and social effects!