How do you turn stress into success?

| Read time: 7 minute(s)
How do you turn stress into success? Worried about an upcoming exam? Can’t sleep after arguing with a friend? Everyday situations can be a source of great stress which in turn negatively affects our minds and our bodies. But experts say you can find ways to manage your stress, and channel it into something useful. Imagine you clumsily dropped your tray in the middle of the cafeteria. It is not unusual for our minds and bodies to have to seemingly have eggagerated responses to everyday situations. An upcoming project deadline, a fight with a family member or even an embarrassing moment can easily trigger what is know as body’s “fight or flight response”. It’s a set of hormonal and physiological situations that helped our ancestors escape life threatening situations like escaping a venomous snake or fleeing a charging hyena. Yet this “fight or flight response” may feel less appropriate for the type of stressors we feel today. When we find something even remotely upsetting or embarassing a signalling pathway known as the HPA-axis is triggered. It starts with the activation of the hypothalamus aka the hormonal center of the brain. The hypothalamus sounds the alarm alerting the pituitary gland and the adrenal glands leading to the release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones travel through the bloodstream and relay all sorts of effects like increasing heart rate and increasing bloodflow and boosting the amount of energy available to the brain. It sounds like a good thing thats because it can be! This stress response makes you react quickly and efficiently inface of danger. Stress in small doses can be very motivating. Nothing quite drives you to practice a piano solo like the pressure of an upcoming recital. Feeling a little stressed might even help you learn. The hippocampus a brain region essential to learning is rich in receptors that respond to the stress hormone cortisol. Lab studies have found adding mild stressors such as a sudden temperature change before a memory task can enhance performance. Further during your teen years the brain is rewired to promote exploration and learning. And one way it does this is by making the HPA- axis more reactive. The problem is when this stress axis is triggered too often or for too long. Normally, stress lasts for 15 -30 minutes but when it repeatedly keeps coming back or goes on for long the HPA-axis adapts and keeps releasing the stress hormones continuously. This causes issues throughout the body like sleeplessness, digestive issues, brain fog and even heart diseases. SO HOW MUCH STRESS IS TOO MUCH STRESS? Not everyone experiences stress in the same way. Different factors like your genetics, environmental factors and even your age can influence the way your body responds. No matter the situation there are tools that can make your situation easier… Exercise- is thought to prompt new neurons which may help our brain become more resilient to stress. A run through the park or a basketball game with friends can also be thought to be a great distraction from whatever is stressing you out. Friends- Speaking of friends, spending time with others can actually buffer your body’s response to stress. This maybe due to the response of oxytocin a hormone that helps us feel closer to others and can dampen the activity of the HPA-axis. Mindful practices- Simple exercises like pausing to breathe during stressful situations or journaling everyday can have a huge impact. These practices over time can help you understand your thoughts and feelings and help you stay grounded in the present moment. We can’t always be prepared for what life throws at us but there are ways to better prepare our minds and bodies for the many deadlines, awkward conversations and spills ahead.

Worried about an upcoming exam? Can’t sleep after arguing with a friend? Everyday situations can be a source of great stress which in turn negatively affects our minds and our bodies.

But experts say you can find ways to manage your stress, and channel it into something useful. 

Imagine you clumsily dropped your tray in the middle of the cafeteria. It is not unusual for our minds and bodies to have to seemingly have eggagerated responses to everyday situations. An upcoming project deadline, a fight with a family member or even an embarrassing moment can easily trigger what is know as body’s “fight or flight response”. It’s a set of hormonal and physiological situations that helped our ancestors escape life threatening situations like escaping a venomous snake or fleeing a charging hyena. 

Yet this “fight or flight response” may feel less appropriate for the type of stressors we feel today. When we find something even remotely upsetting or embarassing a signalling pathway known as the HPA-axis is triggered. It starts with the activation of the hypothalamus aka the hormonal center of the brain. The hypothalamus sounds the alarm alerting the pituitary gland and the adrenal glands leading to the release of stress hormones like adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones travel through the bloodstream and relay all sorts of effects like increasing heart rate and increasing bloodflow and boosting the amount of energy available to the brain. 

It sounds like a good thing thats because it can be! This stress response makes you react quickly and efficiently inface of danger. Stress in small doses can be very motivating. Nothing quite drives you to practice a piano solo like the pressure of an upcoming recital. Feeling a little stressed might even help you learn. 

The hippocampus a brain region essential to learning is rich in receptors that respond to the stress hormone cortisol. Lab studies have found adding mild stressors such as a sudden temperature change before a memory task  can enhance performance. Further during your teen years the brain is rewired to promote exploration and learning. And one way it does this is by making the HPA- axis more reactive.

The problem is when this stress axis is triggered too often or for too long. Normally, stress lasts for 15 -30 minutes but when it repeatedly keeps coming back or goes on for long the HPA-axis adapts and keeps releasing the stress hormones continuously. This causes issues throughout the body like sleeplessness, digestive issues, brain fog and even heart diseases.

SO HOW MUCH STRESS IS TOO MUCH STRESS?

Not everyone experiences stress in the same way. Different factors like your genetics, environmental factors and even your age can influence the way your body responds. No matter the situation there are tools that can make your situation easier…

Exercise- is thought to prompt new neurons which may help our brain become more resilient to stress. A run through the park or a basketball game with friends can also be thought to be a great distraction from whatever is stressing you out.

Friends- Speaking of friends, spending time with others can actually buffer your body’s response to stress. This maybe due to the response of oxytocin a hormone that helps us feel closer to others and can dampen the activity of the HPA-axis. 

Mindful practices- Simple exercises like pausing to breathe during stressful situations or journaling everyday can have a huge impact. These practices over time can help you understand your thoughts and feelings and help you stay grounded in the present moment.

We can’t always be prepared for what life throws at us but there are ways to better prepare our minds and bodies for the many deadlines, awkward conversations and spills ahead.

Rate Now

Read to me