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Beach House Recovery Center » Blog » “Bad” Stress vs. “Good” Stress
The word “stress” carries so many negative connotations, many people are unaware that medical science recognizes negative and positive forms of stress. We’ve all heard of “distress,” mostly in the context of extreme emotional upset. But its constructive counterpart, “eustress,” is a stranger to the average vocabulary.
European endocrinologist Hans Selye developed the first scientific stress model, General Adaptation Syndrome, in the 1930s. The basic GAS premises are:
Distress can also be converted into eustress, often by the simple technique of consciously saying, “I’m so excited” instead of “I’m so scared.”
However, many people stress out over being stressed—any sense of rising tension generates “This stress will wreck my health” panic—which, of course, generates distress. (There is, in fact, scientific evidence that fewer people die from chronic stress than from fear of stress.) When you’re recovering from addiction, the situation is further complicated by the possibility of post-acute withdrawal, which may generate periodic stress symptoms for as long as two years.
While the best response to rising tension is often to “relax it away” (more on that in a moment), always making that your default response may hurt your productivity and enthusiasm—at a time when you need them to rebuild your self-respect and future. So when you feel your heart rate increasing and your muscles tensing—assuming there’s no obvious physical danger in sight—take a moment to consider:
If most of your answers indicate a situation needing productive activity to achieve desired results, see the section on mobilizing eustress. If your conclusion is that you’re upset about something you have little power over—read the next section.
Distress is best met with physical relaxation and positive thinking.
Eustress is there to energize you for action—take advantage of it.
And if you really aren’t sure whether it’s distress or eustress you’re feeling? Don’t stress out overanalyzing it. Just scan the lists above and pick any tip that feels good r
The word “stress” carries so many negative connotations, many people are unaware that medical science recognizes negative and positive forms of stress. We’ve all heard of “distress,” mostly in the context of extreme emotional upset. But its constructive counterpart, “eustress,” is a stranger to the average vocabulary.
European endocrinologist Hans Selye developed the first scientific stress model, General Adaptation Syndrome, in the 1930s. The basic GAS premises are:
Distress can also be converted into eustress, often by the simple technique of consciously saying, “I’m so excited” instead of “I’m so scared.”
However, many people stress out over being stressed—any sense of rising tension generates “This stress will wreck my health” panic—which, of course, generates distress. (There is, in fact, scientific evidence that fewer people die from chronic stress than from fear of stress.) When you’re recovering from addiction, the situation is further complicated by the possibility of post-acute withdrawal, which may generate periodic stress symptoms for as long as two years.
While the best response to rising tension is often to “relax it away” (more on that in a moment), always making that your default response may hurt your productivity and enthusiasm—at a time when you need them to rebuild your self-respect and future. So when you feel your heart rate increasing and your muscles tensing—assuming there’s no obvious physical danger in sight—take a moment to consider:
If most of your answers indicate a situation needing productive activity to achieve desired results, see the section on mobilizing eustress. If your conclusion is that you’re upset about something you have little power over—read the next section.
Distress is best met with physical relaxation and positive thinking.
Eustress is there to energize you for action—take advantage of it.
And if you really aren’t sure whether it’s distress or eustress you’re feeling? Don’t stress out overanalyzing it. Just scan the lists above and pick any tip that feels good right now!
Whether you’re researching for yourself or a loved one, Beach House can help. We understand that this is a serious time in your life and that the treatment center you choose matters. We want you to feel comfortable and empowered to make the right decision for yourself, a friend, or a family member. This is why a counselor is waiting and available to answer your questions and help put your mind at ease regarding the next steps. Many of the staff at Beach House have walked in your shoes. If you feel you’re ready or want more information about how to help a loved one, we can help today. You can also learn why we are voted the #1 rehab for addiction treatment in Florida.
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