STRESS FOR SUCCESS

The pressures of business require the ability to manipulate daily stress levels. Many people thrive on stress, in manageable amounts. To these people, stress lends zest to life. “Eustress” is the term coined to label a positive level of stress that heightens productivity, creativity and enjoyment of life.

But relentless stress causes the body to respond as it does in an emergency, with a “freeze, flight or fight response.” As danger is perceived, the brain stimulates the kidneys to release two sets of hormones. The first, glucocorticoids, increase the level of fats, cholesterol, cortisone and sugar in the system, and these increase available energy levels to fight or flee a dangerous situation. The second, adrenaline, increases heart rate and consequently the body’s oxygen consumption.

As this psycho-physiological process continues, blood pressure rises and breathing becomes rapid and shallow. Blood is pumped to large muscles and away from smaller vessels; muscle tension increases, as does perspiration needed to cool the active body. Pupils dilate and the senses of hearing and smell become more acute. Brain waves elevate as attention and alertness increase.

When the danger has passed, the parasympathetic nervous system reverses the bodily effects to regain equilibrium -- homeostasis. As long as we only experience episodic stress -- those situations that are comprehensible, specific and infrequent -- we can rely on our bodies to discharge physical tension and automatically rebound in this manner.

Stress is basically a response, a flow of energy if you will. A certain amount of stress is necessary for top performance. (The only truly stress-free people are dead.) So, up to a point, stress increases motivation and productivity. When the stress level continues to rise above that point, however, it becomes distress and negative consequences begin to take effect. Ill effects of negative stress include high blood pressure, headaches, chronic muscle tension, and the general weakening of the immune system. When you are in this mode a great deal of the time your brain stops functioning well and your judgment is clouded. Chronic stress is also linked to short-term memory loss and poor decision-making. Change-adept achievers have learned how to manage stress levels -- to generate the right amount of eustress which for them assures optimal performance -- and to utilize stress-reduction techniques when they begin to go into stress overload.