When I need to unwind, there’s nothing I love more than an “experience.”
Snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, Zip-lining or even just riding roller coasters at Coney
Island.
These aren’t relaxing activities by any stretch.
In fact, they get my adrenaline pumping, so physiologically I’m experiencing “stress,”
but I still enjoy them, and I still feel better after them.
Stress usually gets a bad rap - some studies have linked chronic stress to depression,
obesity, and heart disease - but my happy experiences with briefly stressful activities
got me thinking – are there times when a little stress can be good for us?
Now scientists have actually done lots of studies on the potential benefits of short-term,
acute stress.
A group of researchers at the University of Wisconsin wanted to know if the stress hormone
cortisol affects how well people learn and remember - a study that’s relevant for students
cramming for exams all over the world!
Now cortisol is naturally released when our “fight or flight” systems are activated.
Chronically high levels of cortisol are linked to high blood pressure, heart disease, digestive
issues, anxiety and depression.
But in spurts, cortisol works as a signal to increase dopamine which improves perception
and attention.
In this study, researchers gave participants a placebo, 20mg, or 40mg of cortisol.
Then they gave them a list of words to memorize.
Two days later, people who received a 20mg dose did the best job of recognizing the words
that they’d been asked to memorize.
So a little stress can actually help us learn.
Beyond a boost in memory, researchers were curious about how these small bursts of stress
could impact our relationships with others - would stress bring us together or push us
apart?
They put people through stress-inducing tasks including public speaking and job applications,
verbal math, and then measured their prosocial behaviors compared to control subjects.
Stressed participants were more trustworthy and more likely to share in a game where they
could compete or cooperate to win money.
This result is supported by how communities respond to disasters in the real world.
Research shows that people are more cooperative, open, and giving after a disaster.
Acute stress can bring communities together too.
The way we think about stress can also have a huge influence on the way it affects us.
People who view stress as potentially beneficial are less negatively impacted by adverse life
events than people who think stress can only be bad.
Think about presenting in front of a crowd.
Everyone has a physiological stress response to public speaking: cortisol levels and heart
rate go up, you might feel a little nauseous or jittery.
Would you describe this as anxiety or excitement?
The physical sensation is the same, but someone who describes that feeling as “excitement”
is more likely to enjoy public speaking than someone who describes it as “anxiety.”
Simply learning that symptoms of stress may be beneficial can lead to healthier responses
to stress in the future.
So while chronic high stress is known to be harmful, short-term, acute stress isn’t
necessarily bad.
Instead of focusing on the negatives, think about a time that you enjoyed stress, like
during a horror movie, or while riding a roller coaster.
Think of times when stress helped you cram for an exam or when a stressful experience
brought you closer to a friend or colleague.
Reframing your thinking about stress can have real benefits for how you experience day-to-day
challenges.
So instead of being stressed about stress – try to focus on how you can use it to
your advantage!