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Stress is a part of life. While small amounts of stress can keep us motivated and focused, chronic stress can cause serious harm to our mental and physical health. Stress-related illnesses account for 70% of medical visits. But we wouldn't want a life with no stress at all. Here's how to tell the difference, when to take action, and how holistic therapy can help you manage stress before it takes a permanent toll.

Is There Such a Thing as Good Stress?

Yes, there is! Stress, in small doses, can actually be beneficial. This kind of "good stress" is often referred to as eustress, which helps keep you motivated, focused, and energized. Short bursts of stress—like preparing for a presentation or meeting a deadline—can sharpen your performance. It can trigger a natural healing response in the body and keep you engaged with life's challenges. The key is finding balance. Too much stress can tip over into harmful territory. But small, manageable amounts can drive positive growth and productivity.

How to Tell the Difference Between Good Stress and Harmful Stress

Understanding the difference between good stress (eustress) and harmful stress (distress) is important. But a lot of people, particularly anxious overachievers, don't know where the line is. While both types of stress activate similar physical responses, their effects on your health are very different.

Here’s how to tell the difference:

Good Stress (Eustress)

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Motivates you. It energizes you to take action and get things done!
Feels exciting, not overwhelming. You may feel challenged but not burdened by it. This type of stress pushes you out of your comfort zone without overwhelming you.
Temporary. Eustress typically happens in short bursts. Once the task is completed, the stress fades, allowing you to return to a relaxed state.
Enhances performance. It often leads to improved focus and productivity, helping you grow and reach new goals.

Harmful Stress (Distress)

Feels overwhelming. Instead of motivating you, distress makes you feel anxious, exhausted, or paralyzed, leading to burnout.
Prolonged and constant. Harmful stress lingers over time and doesn’t resolve quickly, creating ongoing pressure.
Affects health. It can manifest through headaches, muscle pain, or sleep problems. It can also increase anxiety, depression, or irritability. It lowers your body's ability to heal itself.
Decreases performance. Chronic stress lowers your ability to focus, leading to mistakes and decreased productivity.

Knowing the difference helps you gauge when stress is pushing you toward growth and when it’s negatively impacting your health. If stress feels persistent and overwhelming, it may be time to seek support through holistic therapy.

The Dangers of Chronic Stress

While acute stress can help us stay alert and even trigger natural healing responses, chronic stress is a different story. When stress becomes constant and overwhelming, it begins to wear down both your body and mind.

Negative Health Impacts Of Chronic Stress

Physical symptoms. Recurring headaches, muscle aches, or increased susceptibility to illness.
Sleep disturbances. Chronic stress can lead to insomnia or poor-quality sleep, further harming mental and physical health.
Mental health deterioration. Increased anxiety, depression, and irritability are all signs that stress is having a serious effect on you.
Relationship strain. Stress can make us less patient, more reactive, and damage personal and professional relationships.

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When Stress Becomes Harmful

When stress is prolonged or becomes overwhelming, it can negatively impact your health. Here are a few signs that stress has crossed the line and needs to be addressed:

Frequent physical complaints. If you find yourself dealing with constant aches, fatigue, or illness, stress may be affecting your body’s ability to recover.
Emotional changes. Persistent feelings of anxiety, anger, or sadness are signs that stress is taking a toll on your mental health.
Relationship issues. If stress is causing ongoing tension or disconnection in your relationships, it’s time to pay attention.
Trouble sleeping. Difficulty falling or staying asleep is a common sign that stress is impacting your health.
Worsening of anxiety or depression. If you already struggle with mental health issues, stress can exacerbate these conditions.

How to Reduce Stress and Find Balance

The good news is that reducing stress doesn’t require massive changes to your lifestyle. There are small, manageable steps you can take to decrease stress and regain control of your health and happiness.

1. Examine Your Relationship with Technology

Stress levels have risen dramatically in the digital age, especially with the use of smartphones. While our phones offer convenience, they also bombard us with notifications, alerts, and distractions, all of which can increase anxiety.

Here are a few ways to reduce tech-related stress:

Turn off unnecessary notifications or alerts that cause stress.
Limit your social media time or remove certain apps from your phone.
Consider taking email off your phone and using it only for essentials like maps, texting, or important apps like your bank or calendar.

This simple act of digital decluttering can have a powerful effect on reducing stress levels.

2. Prioritize Sleep and Hydration

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Good sleep hygiene and staying hydrated are often overlooked but play a huge role in managing stress. Lack of sleep amplifies anxiety and makes it harder to cope with life’s challenges. Try establishing a calming bedtime routine, limiting screen time before bed, and drinking plenty of water throughout the day to keep your body and mind in balance.

3. Move Your Body

Our bodies tend to go into a freeze state when we're stressed. We feel stuck and stiff. To combat this, move! Whether a short walk or a vigorous workout, movement is free and incredibly effective.

Want a gentle yoga workout? Our therapists teamed up with Coach Meg to offer a free on-demand yoga class to reduce stress.

watch the yoga flow on demand

4. Set Up Boundaries With Your Stressors

These days we can't just go home from work and detach like we used to decades ago. We have to consciously set up boundaries with work, technology, and even some stressful relationships. Consider what boundaries you might need to set with your stressors and reinforce those boundaries without apology.

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5. Consider Holistic Therapy for Stress Management

If you’re feeling overwhelmed and unsure of how to manage your stress, holistic therapy can offer a solution. Holistic therapy looks at your whole self—mind, body, and spirit—to help you manage stress from multiple angles. This approach integrates mindfulness, relaxation techniques, lifestyle changes, and emotional support to bring you back into balance.

Holistic therapy encourages small but powerful practices like:

Mindfulness: A practice of staying present and aware of your thoughts and feelings without judgment.
Body-mind connection: Physical activity like yoga or walking, which can help release tension and clear the mind.
Non-pathologizing approach. Helping you get back to balance shouldn't come with more negativity.
Understanding root causes and motivations. Determining why you've found yourself in a chronic stress situation can help you prevent it from recurring.

Mindfulness and Mindset Matter

Managing stress doesn’t have to take up a lot of your time. By making small adjustments, you can significantly reduce stress. Through holistic therapy, you can build a balanced mindset that allows you to thrive.

Reducing stress is not just about removing negative factors. It’s also about creating space for rest, balance, and self-care. Start small, be kind to yourself, and consider seeking support through therapy to help you along the way.

Holistic Therapy In California

Ready to take the first step in reducing your stress? Explore holistic therapy to find the support that works best for you. Our San Francisco and Los Angeles therapists are ready to help you get back into balance.