Stress – the Good and Bad. Yes, There’s a Good Side to Stress. Really!
Our bodies are MEANT to experience stress. We are designed to respond to danger and that response is a “stress” response where we activate our bodies to fight or flee – or we collapse or shut down in order to hide.
Your body’s stress response is here to help you. Without our body’s the stress response, the human species would have been defeated by other predators hundreds of thousands of years ago. Stress responses are literally life-saving when we are faced with mortal danger. When someone cuts you off in traffic, and you hit the brakes without even thinking, that’s your nervous system activating a stress response, jumping in to help you.
Stress can also help us by getting our attention when we need to take action in non-life-threatening situations. It can be a signal that something needs attention or action in your life. Your nervous system is communicating that something is off. Maybe you need to take something off your plate, or set boundaries, or ask for support, or change jobs, or friends, or play more, or rest more, or connect to a spiritual practice, or get more exercise, or reach out for connection. Stress can also be a great energy source when we need to accomplish a demanding task.
Our bodies’ stress response is absolutely essential to our survival and overall function. This is what I mean when I suggest that stress is GOOD! It’s not all bad.
Stress is, however, meant to be temporary. The problem arises when stress gets stuck in our body and we run on fight-flight or collapse for prolonged periods. Chronic stress has a profound impact on our ability to function, physically, mentally and emotionally. Chronic stress robs us of the joy and health we are designed to experience. It keeps us focused on survival and compromises our ability to reach out and connect with others and the world around us in a present and meaningful way.
Sometimes we have unprocessed stress, or an underlying current of stress in our systems because we carry past, unresolved wounds or trauma. This is when you might decide to look for the right coach, bodyworker or therapist who can help unwind the experience from your body, mind and emotions and support your capacity to regulate and restore the wellness of your nervous system.
For me, the key to the door out of chronic stress has been getting into my body. Breathwork, bodywork, somatic therapy, Somatic Stress Release™ and regular somatic movement practices have all played a vital role in my journey to learn how to better regulate my nervous system. I know what it’s like to live with chronic stress, and I’m learning what it’s like to live without it. If you’re suffering from chronic stress, there’s hope. The key is inside you, waiting.
