Oh well: short-term stress makes you happy AND healthy!
Stress can also make you happy
Urs Willmann, science editor at the weekly "Die Zeit", has dealt intensively with the phenomenon of stress in his book "Stress? Ein Lebensmittel". The result: Stress unjustly enjoys a one-sided negative reputation. In the right dose, he was not only invigorating, but also healthy and almost vital for survival. Because Mother Nature gave us the stress response to help us, not to kill us. What do you mean with that?
Successful model of evolution
Scientists agree that stress on hunters and gatherers made perfect sense. When the saber-toothed tiger was sitting on the neck of our ancestors, they fled or fought. Both stress reactions were vital. Today, our bodies are still having the same reaction as hunter-gatherers: we "flee" in certain situations and "fight" by justifying ourselves or getting loud. Under stress, the body releases adrenaline, which can have a positive effect on our body.
In a parachute jump, for example, we jump from a plane thousands of feet above the ground. Why are we doing this stress? Because we are flooded with happiness after the stress. "The short-term stress is the one that makes us happy," says Willmann. It triggers hormone secretions that cause euphoria, increase performance and bring joy. However, we should not "enjoy this hormone cocktail permanently, then we will work hard".
Chronic stress makes you sick
In addition to the positive short-term stress, which drives the immune system and helps the brain on the jumps, there is also the chronic stress. When the stress becomes permanent, it leads to health problems. Because cortisone destroys not only the immune system, but also the cognitive performance in permanently stressed people. In the worst case, the constant alert can lead to serious organic diseases or burnout.
Irritability, nightmares, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal problems and high blood pressure are also signs of a permanent state of stress.
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