4 Scientific Reasons Proving Stress Can Be Quite Good For You

Too much stress can be damaging to both body and mind. But did you know that the right amount of stress is key to our survival? Stress is more common than we think and we experience it every day. However, we experience stress over what matter to us, things we are passionate about. If things that typically cause us stress like our careers or our relationships didn’t matter, we wouldn’t bat an eye if we were at risk of losing them, right?

If you have felt stress lately, think about why. Now here are 4 reasons why occasionally feeling stressed is actually quite good for you:

1.    It builds your resilience

What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Once you’ve survived a stressful episode, you come out tougher, more equipped to face more. Making it through stressful times strengthens your resilience and actually developed you not just mentally but physically.

2.    It improves your immunity

The human body is an amazing thing. Is response to stress, your body is already preparing to heal itself as it would if you were injured or sick. Chemicals called interleukins regulate the immune system, and an extra boost of it is produced whenever you feel stressed.

3.    It becomes your motivator

Did you know that there is actually a thing called good stress? Eustress, like the one you experience when you exercise, is a great motivator. In times when you need something to drive you to meet a deadline or prepare you for a particularly high-impact day, eustress can be that stimulus to get you pumped up to succeed.

4.    It stimulates your brain

Neurotrophins induce the function, development and most importantly, survival of neurons. When you are stressed, neurotrophins are kicked into gear, strengthening the connections in your brain giving you a boost of concentration and productivity. Your awareness is now heightened as well as your efficiency levels.

So the next time you feel stressed, thank your body for kicking into survival mode to help you get through it.