09/28/2025
Walking through my daughter’s dorm during Family weekend and was impressed by their display discussing managing stress. Students were encouraged to move their “frog” to lily pad supporting their options to manage and cope. I was not surprised to find her frog on the “napping” lily pad! She’s a busy go-getter and has identified the need for relaxation in order to reset.
So what do we know about stress? Let’s talk about it…
Stress is not always a bad thing. Stress is simply the body’s response to changes that create taxing demands. In daily life, we often use the term “stress” to describe negative experiences or situations. This leads many people to believe that all stress is bad for you, which is not true.
😊EUSTRESS🙂, or positive stress response, has the following characteristics:
Motivates and focuses energy
Is short-term
Is perceived as within our coping abilities
Feels exciting
Improves performance
⭐️Receiving a promotion or raise at work
⭐️Starting a new job
💛Marriage
⭐️Buying a home
⭐️Having a child
🔆Taking a vacation
⭐️Holiday seasons
As Dr. Brindusa Vanta, MD, says, “Eustress, also known as positive stress, acts as a powerful motivator, driving you to take on challenges. By embracing these stressors, you experience personal growth and resilience and a sense of accomplishment and fulfillment.”
😬DISTRESS😩
In contrast, distress, or negative stress, has the following characteristics:
Causes anxiety or concern
Can be short- or long-term
Is perceived as outside of our coping abilities
Feels unpleasant
Decreases performance
Can lead to mental and physical problems
💔The death of a spouse
💔Filing for divorce
💔Losing contact with loved ones
💔The death of a family member
❤️🩹Hospitalization (of yourself or a family member)
❤️🩹Injury or illness (of yourself or a family member)
❤️🩹Being abused or neglected
Effectively managing distress requires a multifaceted approach that incorporates both self-help strategies and, when necessary, professional support. Understanding and employing various coping mechanisms can significantly improve your ability to navigate stressful situations, reduce the impact of distress, and enhance overall well-being Including:
🧘🏽♂️🙏Mindfulness and relaxation (This includes prayer and spiritual practices.)
🚵🏽♀️🏊🏼Physical activity (any movement is better than nothing!)
🥬🥑Healthy lifestyle choices and nutrition
🕰️Time management (can’t so It all!)
🧑🏾🍼👫Social support and interactions (fun and play Is Essential!)
🪡👨🏼🌾🪁Hobbies and interests ( creative expression, a must!)
