Bakit Stressed ang Beshy Ko? Managing Stress Effectively

Leah Lalogo
November 25, 2024
11:35 AM

Have you ever felt a surge of energy while picking out a last-minute gift for a friend’s birthday, eagerly anticipating their party? Or perhaps felt overwhelmed while working on a project with a looming deadline?

Both of these are forms of stress. But how can one make us feel energized while the other leaves us feeling overwhelmed?

What exactly is stress?

Stress is a state of worry or mental tension caused by a difficult situation. It is our body’s natural response, telling us to address certain challenges and threats in our lives.1 Sometimes, stress can cause symptoms like a stomach ache or mild palpitations, but it can also escalate to a point where it becomes dangerous. It may interfere with your ability to function, leaving you feeling fatigued, irritable, and struggling to concentrate.2

How can stress be positive?

There are two distinct types of stress, according to a psychologist named Hans Selye: eustress and distress.

Eustress is the positive response our body has to stress caused by an enjoyable or meaningful task, as we experience a sense of fulfillment or achievement once it’s completed. For example, you are assigned to facilitate your organization’s team-building event in just two weeks, and surprisingly, you feel energized and are productively accomplishing and ticking off the boxes on your to-do checklist.

Now, when it’s the other way round, such that you feel overwhelmed because of a tight deadline, you might be experiencing distress, which is a negative stress response that results in being overwhelmed by the demands of work.3

Distress triggers physiological and psychological changes in your body that might pose serious health risks if you are not attending to it. Stress management strategies can minimize (or eliminate) the risks stress brings you.

To learn about these strategies, Join this month’s webinar brought to you by Mind You: