Carrlee Stainback
ENG-101
Professor Howell
7 November, 2016
Is Stress Beneficial?
Certainly, we have all experienced the cringing and anxiety driven “S” word: stress. Whether it be in the daily college overload, relationships at home, tensions at work, or even our social life, stress has slithered its way into our lives and taken complete control. Much of the stress we experience is unavoidable. It is something that is inevitably a part of our everyday lives. Ironically, several research studies conducted at prestigious universities such as Princeton, Stanford, and Berkley have found that the fear of stress and its impact on our health is what is causing the ultimate harm, not the stress itself. They have also proven that the actual stress …show more content…
Studies have found that eustress can help you enter a complete sense of awareness and absorption in activities achieved at work, in sports, or even in a creative attempt such as playing a musical instrument or painting a piece of artwork (Kelly McGonigal). Not only does stress motivate you mentally, it also motivates you physically. A group of researchers at Princeton University proved that exercise such as running rearranges the brain so that there is a reduced stress response as well as less interference with anxiety and the brain’s normal functions (Morgan Kelly 1). Particularly, this research study found that running produced a significant increase in the number of new neurons in the hippocampus of mice that ran for six weeks.
We have all been through some stressful situations that we consciously put ourselves in to make life more interesting. We take on challenges such as asking someone out on a first date or for a phone number, facing and conquering a fear such as heights, or simply interacting with people we have never met such as new coworkers or peers. These may not seem to be particularly stressful events because of the positive outcome, but these stressors are the types that can help you to achieve happiness, good health, and
ENG-101
Professor Howell
7 November, 2016
Is Stress Beneficial?
Certainly, we have all experienced the cringing and anxiety driven “S” word: stress. Whether it be in the daily college overload, relationships at home, tensions at work, or even our social life, stress has slithered its way into our lives and taken complete control. Much of the stress we experience is unavoidable. It is something that is inevitably a part of our everyday lives. Ironically, several research studies conducted at prestigious universities such as Princeton, Stanford, and Berkley have found that the fear of stress and its impact on our health is what is causing the ultimate harm, not the stress itself. They have also proven that the actual stress …show more content…
Studies have found that eustress can help you enter a complete sense of awareness and absorption in activities achieved at work, in sports, or even in a creative attempt such as playing a musical instrument or painting a piece of artwork (Kelly McGonigal). Not only does stress motivate you mentally, it also motivates you physically. A group of researchers at Princeton University proved that exercise such as running rearranges the brain so that there is a reduced stress response as well as less interference with anxiety and the brain’s normal functions (Morgan Kelly 1). Particularly, this research study found that running produced a significant increase in the number of new neurons in the hippocampus of mice that ran for six weeks.
We have all been through some stressful situations that we consciously put ourselves in to make life more interesting. We take on challenges such as asking someone out on a first date or for a phone number, facing and conquering a fear such as heights, or simply interacting with people we have never met such as new coworkers or peers. These may not seem to be particularly stressful events because of the positive outcome, but these stressors are the types that can help you to achieve happiness, good health, and