How Much Stress Is Too Much

When is The Stress Too Much?

“People are not disturbed by things, but by the view they take of them.” – Epictetus

Stress is a term that most - if not all - of us are familiar with. Many of us are so used to dealing with stress that feeling stressed somehow feels ‘normal’.

Stress can be healthy as long as you are able to cope with it. In other words, when stress is not excessive, it can help you to stay focused, energetic, and on your toes. It can also help you to face challenges and strive for excellence- for instance, feeling stressed can push you to put your best foot forward at an important work presentation or whilst playing a competitive game.

The experience of stress depends on both, the environment in which stress occurs, as well as the person who experiences stress.

When is Stress Motivating

Eustress refers to ‘good stress’ i.e. stress that motivates you to continue working and perform well. Examples of situations that can lead to eustress include getting married, getting promoted or having a baby- all of which are conventionally positive changes that bring along additional responsibility. Eustress helps us stay happy, motivated, challenged and productive.

When eustress becomes constant or severe, however, it causes distress.

When is Stress Distressing

Bad stress, or distress, is the state that arises when stress becomes too much to cope with. When one experiences distress, tension keeps building up, which not only makes tasks less fun but also hampers your productivity. This is the kind of stress that typically leads to a less satisfying life. Constant pressure at work, financial woes, sudden lifestyle changes (such as relocating) or having to take care of an ailing family member are just a handful of examples that reflect distress.

If distress is not managed properly, it can pave the way for a lot of problems and difficulties. Even minor, everyday stressors can influence health and psychological well being. If these stressors persist over time, they can be particularly damaging to your mood and can contribute to a less satisfying life.

When Does Stress Become Too Much

Stress is your body’s fight-or-flight response to threat. When you are feeling stressed, the fight-or-flight response of your body may cause fatigue, difficulty in sleeping and eating, or even emotional burden. While these reactions are ‘normal’ - and even helpful for the immediate situation - if stress becomes frequent, it can impair your body’s immune system, thereby increasing the risk of physical and mental health problems

Stressful jobs. Conflicted marriages. Unhappy families. Debts. Loans. Not making enough money. When you repeatedly face stressors like these over time – that is, when stress becomes chronic – your body may not be able to cope well.

This is the type of stress that wears you away day after day, year after year. Chronic stress takes a major toll physically and psychologically - contributing to an unhappy life.

Do Not Ignore These Signs

By noticing how you respond to stress, you can manage it better and in healthy ways - which will help your body protect itself from the long-term negative effects of chronic stress.