Stress is something everybody experiences in their daily lives and it can be the result of many different things. Whether it’s from work, family, or anything in between, stress has the ability to impact your health in countless different ways. Oftentimes, that pressure can be a positive thing for your overall well being, but if it persists for a prolonged period of time, that’s when it can become detrimental to your health. While there’s no way to completely eliminate stress from your life, you certainly can find ways to turn the negatives into positives.

Your body has many different ways that it responds to the environment that it is in. Most of these are specifically designed to protect you in times of danger, and stress is just another one of those bodily processes. Whenever you feel as if you’re in danger, your body triggers the release of “stress hormones” which are mainly cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones are essentially produced for the purpose of maintaining your body’s natural health and well being.[1] This short burst of energy has historically meant to be the difference between life in death, so it’s not meant to be stimulated over long periods of time.

That is one of the main differences between healthy and unhealthy stress: the length of time in which it persists. The stress you feel during the last few minutes of the Super Bowl or the drive you experience to complete a task by a certain time are both examples of healthy stress. They last for a very short period of time and often result in a feeling of relief at the end. Chronic stress is something very different. This can be caused by nearly anything, like a bad relationship, financial problems, or even a consistent negative attitude. This is the kind of stress that doesn’t have an end point and seems to go on forever. While it may seem like it could soon disappear, chronic stress can lead to countless health problems, like depression, trouble sleeping, and even heart disease.[2]

Knowing what kind of stress you’re under can make a massive difference in your mental and physical health, so it’s important to know what the difference is. To avoid the potential problems caused by unhealthy stress, it’s best to find a way to cope that works best for you. Whether it’s going outside on a nice day or even just changing your outlook on life, one small step could make way for a lifetime of better health.