Now that April and Stress Awareness Month has come to a close and we have moved well into Mental Health Awareness Month, I thought it would be a good time to talk about the difference between good stress and bad stress and how they affect your mental health.
Good stress
Some stress can be good — it is what I describe as “what motivates us to get up and go to work and take care of one another.” You need some awareness and worry in order to remember to pay your bills, take the kids to school/sports/extra-curricular activities, do tasks and chores on time, etc. Otherwise, things may go undone/unfinished. So some amount of stress can motivate you and help you fulfill responsibilities, which can lead to a more fulfilling and happier life.
I’ve recently asked a lot of people, including many of the farmers I work with, to describe types of good stress and examples I’ve been given are having a baby, planning a vacation, buying or remodeling a house, moving, starting a new job or project at work. These are all things that many folks want to do and are even excited about it, but nevertheless experience some amount of stress through the process. This kind of stress is typically short-term but ultimately can be beneficial as it allows you to focus your energies on a specific goal or task.
Bad stress
So how about bad stress? Well, that is the kind of stress that feels like a pileup. It may make you feel jumpy and anxious and can be harmful to your health. It can also lead to confusion, decreased concentration and feeling bad overall. When I asked those same people to give me examples of bad stress, they described relationships that are strained, financial difficulties, concerns with their job or workplace issues, and untreated medical or mental health challenges. These stressors can be either short-term or long-term. Long-term stressors can lead to negative health effects such as headaches, anxiety, high blood pressure and…
Read the full article here
