More often than not we come across certain articles which claim that stress and anxiety are amongst the worst things that can happen to you. And having faced certain stressful situations ourselves, we tend to believe these statements to be true. However, a new study has found that stress and anxiety might actually play a helpful instead of a harmful role in our lives.
"Many Americans now feel stressed about being stressed and anxious about being anxious. Unfortunately, by the time someone reaches out to a professional for help, stress and anxiety have already built to unhealthy levels," said study researcher Lisa Damour, a private-practice psychologist from the US.
What's important is to understand how stress occurs. Stress often takes place when people push themselves to work beyond their abilities and are forced to push themselves to the limit. And it is something that results from both good and bad events. For example, getting divorced can be stressful but so can getting married.
"As all psychologists know, anxiety is an internal alarm system, likely handed down by evolution, that alerts us to threats both external -- such as a driver swerving in a nearby lane -- and internal -- such as when we have procrastinated too long and it's time to get started on our work," Damour said.
"Similarly, if a client shares that she's worried about an upcoming test for which she has yet to study, I am quick to reassure her that she is having the right reaction and that she will feel better as soon as she hits the books," she added.
"Untreated stress and anxiety can cause persistent misery but can also contribute to a host of additional psychological and medical symptoms, such as depression or an increased risk of cardiovascular disease", Damour added.
Basically, stress only becomes harmful if it goes beyond the levels a person can tolerate or absorb. And then it can get worse if one leaves it untreated for long durations of time. So, if you're suffering from excessive stress and anxiety, get the help you require. Stay tuned for more updates.
