The Answer: No, not all stress is bad, nor is all stress created equal— some is vital for life, and necessary for optimal wellness of mind and body. In the right amounts, stress can improve brain function, enable creative endeavors, improve immune function, make it possible to become physically fit, lower your risk of cancer, prevent Alzheimer’s, and much more. Stress should be a positive force, not an obstacle to your health.

It is the chronic stress you feel day in and day out that is an obstacle in your life—and silently destroying your wellness and contentment. This stress, due to all the negative health ramifications, may ultimately kill you or someone you know. It may sound harsh, but think about it. Stress is in epidemic proportions in our stress-filled, stressed-out world.

We all pretty much know and accept that in balanced amounts, certain types of stress is essential and good for us. But, the problem—our measure for healthy stress is excessive and out-of-control in our society. Stress is not all in the head, from racing the clock, long work days, and challenging circumstances.

Think about it. Stress can be, environmental, chemical, emotional, or physical. It’s all around us and too much stress is within us, disrupting optimal health. We must factor in all the types of stress the body and mind experience every day. And until we learn to let go of, or physiologically find a release for stress, it accumulates in our body, at the cellular level, placing us at risk.

The damaging effects of stress (of all kinds) to human health are a scientific fact. Google it, and you will read through the night. Stress can damage your health, your life, your relationships, your sleep, your waistline; the list goes on and on…
This scenario is any one of us, on any given day: For example, say you think about something stressful—work, money, relationships, whatever may be troubling you. Your amygdala (inside your brain) senses danger, and initiates your body’s fight-or-flight response to stress.

In the “fight or flight” response, your body releases adrenaline and the stress hormone cortisol, which diverts blood away from your digestive tract and leaves you unable to digest food and absorb nutrients, which in turn, causes you to more likely gain weight.

In this physiological crisis, you are more vulnerable to pain—chronic illness, arthritis, migraines, stomach upset, insomnia, depression, lowered immune function and much more. In a state of increased physiological warning, due to excessive stress, the human brain’s creative center is deemed non-essential and shuts down. Please read the last sentence again. The result? Problem-solving abilities become muddled, creative skills disappear and cannot be put into action, and intuition suddenly feels like it can’t be trusted. We feel irritable, isolated and impatient. Relationships suffer. Stress affects sleep, metabolism slows down. It is a negative downhill cycle that needs healthy intervention.