There Is Such A Thing As Good Stress, And It's Good For Your Mental Health

Although stress is generally presented as the evil of the century responsible for many health problems, an American study published in August 2022 has just confirmed the existence of good stress and its beneficial effect on mental health. Are you wondering how to distinguish between good and bad stress and how to use pressure to perform better? Here are some answers.

What is good stress?

Although it is most often connoted negatively, stress is neither good nor bad. It is a natural coping mechanism that can help you overcome the obstacles you face.

Of course, this defense mechanism puts you under pressure, in keeping with the etymology of the word (from the Latin verb stringere meaning to press). Its physical manifestations such as sweaty hands and pounding heart are not pleasant, yet it has its good points.

The good stress is one that allows you to mobilize your strength to meet challenges with a high stakes such as an exam to pass, a public speaking engagement or an important meeting to prepare. It is positive because, unlike bad stress, it does not paralyze the person who feels it, but instead helps him or her to act or react.

What has this new study revealed?

According to an American study, at low and moderate levels, stress has positive effects on the brain and mental health. The study was conducted by the University of Georgia on 1,200 young adults using a questionnaire to assess their daily stress levels.

At the same time, the authors analyzed the participants' cognitive abilities, using tests of attention, information processing speed, memory and cognitive flexibility.

The results were published in the journal Psychiatry Research in August 2022. According to the lead author of this study, Assaf Oshri, good stress allows one to 'develop coping mechanisms', to 'organize oneself to perform better', in short, to become more effective in the face of stressful situations.

What are its positive effects on the brain?

This study concluded that low to moderate levels of stress were psychologically beneficial.

Stress occurs during experiences that are unpleasant but make us stronger. According to Assaf Oshri, 'There are specific experiences that can help you grow or develop skills that will prepare you for the future.'

In other words, moderate stress prepares you to deal with stressful situations in the future. You will be better equipped psychologically to deal with similar problems in the future...

This study found that stress could 'help build resilience' in our brains but also protect our mental health, 'by reducing the risk of mental disorders' such as depression and antisocial behavior.

At what level does stress become harmful?

Although this study found that a small dose of stress can therefore be useful and beneficial to our brains, it must be stated that at a certain level, which varies from individual to individual, it becomes detrimental to mental and physical health.

We are not all equal when it comes to stress. Each individual's tolerance to stressful situations depends on various factors such as age, genetic predisposition and social environment. Whether or not we are supported on a daily basis logically impacts our ability to take on challenges and the pressure that comes with them.

So this study also confirms that at some point, stress becomes toxic. This is especially the case when the pressure is chronic because the person is living in a difficult situation of poverty or abuse, for example.

In this case, bad stress has devastating effects physically and emotionally. It affects the entire body, from the immune system to emotional regulation to brain function. Assaf Oshri concludes, 'Not all stress is good stress'.