Idiots are invincible

Dr Ro

Good or bad?

Can stress be positive? Record your response to this question: Yes … No …

Pressure and stress is the common cold of the psyche. – Andrew Denton

There is a slight confusion in the use of the words stress and anxiety. Let us clarify the issue. Stress refers to the demands for adjustment, without necessarily distinguishing between the negative or positive emotions associated with it. Anxiety, on the other hand, refers to negative emotions only.¹⁴

The answer to the question above is “yes.” There is positive (eustress) and negative stress (distress). In fact, a certain degree of stress is necessary in life, as we will see further down, in order to experience what Dr Peter Hansen calls the joy of stress!

Does eustress also pose a threat?

Indeed! Except, these threats are less intense compared to the effects of distress. One could even argue that the physiological responses to positive and negative stress are similar, as illustrated in the example below.

A mother learns that her son has been killed in the Second World War (the letter with the bad news took some time to arrive, because it was mailed by regular and not express post). She is shattered, she shakes, her blood pressure rises, she wobbles, stutters and, considering her old age, potential consequences could include a stroke or heart attack.

If she recovers and survives until next week, she will offer us the opportunity to examine an example of positive stress. Let us assume (this is our story, we write the script) that mum survives.

Within the next week, her son, who was mistakenly presumed dead, returns (he walked all the way from Japan; that is why he was late) and, not having mum’s mobile number to inform her of his imminent arrival, rings the doorbell.

His mother, upon seeing her beloved son, reacts in a manner very similar to last week, when she was informed of his apparent death. She is shattered, she shakes, her blood pressure rises, she wobbles, stutters, she is a week older now and as such, a stroke or a heart attack could again be imminent.

Conclusion: any event, pleasant or unpleasant, that requires adjustment may cause a range of physiological and psychological responses. Hence, an alternative definition of stress by the late Austrian Dr Hans Selye, the “father” of … Stress-o-logy, states:

“Stress is the non-specific response of the body towards any demand for adjustment imposed, irrespective of whether the demand is placed by pleasant or unpleasant situations.”

Sitting in the dentist’s chair may be as stressful as a passionate kiss with your beloved, argued Selye. Who would avoid the latter because of the stress it generates?

Feel free to kiss me; I promise I can handle it …

By the way, if you do not have problems, raise your hand! Do you know someone who has no stress?

I know a several people, except … they are six-feet under! Only the dead have zero stress (although those who have caught the elevator to the “underworld,” may be in a slightly detrimental position!).

Excessive stress is the problem

Stress is not only unavoidable but also normal and, in a way, a necessary element of human existence. Yes, you have read correctly, stress is normal. The absence of stress is what ought to be considered abnormal and may, in fact, have consequences similar to those of excessive stress.

Stress does not necessarily produce negative consequences, unless a) it occurs quite frequently, b) lasts long, or c) has high intensity. The frequency, duration, and intensity of stress are the factors that make all the difference. People suffer and occasionally die not of excessive stress, but because of their erroneous perception of the stressful event and because of their poor coping responses.

Consequently, a certain degree of stress, what researchers call “optimal” level of arousal, is necessary.

Stress is the spice of life. – Hans Selye

Optimal level of arousal

According to the Law of Inverted U (Yerkes & Dodson, 1908), there is an optimal amount of stress, which energizes us and helps us bring out our best. The optimal level of arousal differs slightly between individuals and is dependent on the nature and the difficulty of each task. For instance, the optimal level of arousal required by a boxer or a 100-meter sprinter (high) is different to that of a volleyball player (average), and a chess player (low).

When the level of arousal exceeds the ideal (excessive stress), some or all of the symptoms of stress, such as reduced concentration, increased blood pressure, appear. If the individual remains in this state for a long time, burnout may occur. Conversely, when the arousal level is too low (little or no stress), a person may experience boredom and lack of energy. It is likely to “stagnate,” if there is no stimulation for a long period.

Therefore, a certain degree of stress is necessary to remain healthy, to be creative, and to feel satisfied. The aim, therefore, is not always to reduce but to effectively manage stress. Indeed, many times it is necessary to increase the degree of stress in our lives … so that we don’t feel as stressed! We will therefore discuss the conscious and effective adjustment (increase or decrease) of stress. In other words, “Hurray for stress!” – as long as we know how to adjust it at will.

You never will be the person you can be if pressure, tension and discipline are taken out of your life. – James Bilkey

There are many ways to manage stress, and awareness of these techniques and strategies helps regulate the three ever important variables: the frequency, the intensity, and the duration of our responses to stimuli. However, this will be the subject of discussion in a later chapter on problem solving and the effective regulation of stress. Let us first examine the sources of stress.