· By Kelin Marquet
Good Stress vs. Bad Stress
Stress isn’t always a bad thing — it’s simply the body’s response to change, and depending on the situation, that response can be helpful or overwhelming.
Good stress, often called eustress, helps you stay focused, energized, and motivated. It can come from positive life changes like welcoming a new baby, starting a new job, learning a new skill, or even planning a big trip.
Bad stress, by contrast, gradually wears you down mentally and physically. It tends to come from situations that feel out of your control or never-ending, such as financial pressure, a difficult relationship, or major life loss.
An ancient response to modern problems
Even though we live in a modern world, our bodies still react to stress the way our ancestors did thousands of years ago. For early humans, stress was tied to basic survival — avoiding predators, finding food, and staying safe.
That same “fight-or-flight” response still activates today, even when the threat isn’t life-or-death. When you feel stressed, the body releases hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, which help you react quickly, stay alert, or perform under pressure.
This response is incredibly useful in short bursts — like during a presentation or urgent deadline — but not designed for long-term activation. When stress becomes ongoing, the body stays in that heightened state, which can gradually impact overall well-being.
What chronic stress can do to the body
Long-term stress can influence many systems in the body. Research suggests that ongoing stress may:
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Affect immune function and make you feel run-down more easily
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Influence cardiovascular wellness
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Disrupt digestion and gut comfort
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Affect weight, appetite, and reproductive hormone balance
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Impact mood, focus, and memory
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Make restful sleep harder to maintain
While everyone reacts differently, most people feel stress in multiple areas of daily life.
The Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale
The Holmes and Rahe Stress Scale lists 43 life events that may contribute to increased stress load, each assigned a point value called “life change units.” Higher scores indicate a higher likelihood of experiencing stress-related challenges within the following years. (1)
Here are the top 10 most impactful life events:
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Death of a spouse
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Divorce
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Marriage separation
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Imprisonment
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Death of a close family member
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Injury or illness
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Marriage
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Job loss
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Marriage reconciliation
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Retirement
As you can see, even positive changes can create significant stress.
The upside? You can’t always control circumstances, but you can improve how you respond to them. Check out our related article for 11 effective ways to manage stress in daily life.
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This information is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. The products and strategies mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any condition. Please consult your doctor or qualified healthcare professional before starting any new supplement or making changes to your wellness routine.
Resources
(1) Marksberry, Kellie. "Holmes- Rahe Stress Inventory". The American Institute of Stress.
https://www.stress.org/holmes-rahe-stress-inventory