Eustress versus Distress

How to boost your endorphins during stressful times

At the level of physiology, stress response doesn’t just consist of an adrenaline rush.  Together with adrenaline, other substances are produced and released by the neuroendocrine system, such as enkephalin (a type of endorphin) and Substance P.  Endorphins make you feel good, whereas Substance P puts you in an emotionally painful state of anxiety.  

Stress is simply a change from the norm, and stress response is an adaptation to that change.  Those who naturally produce lots of endorphins typically thrive in stressful situations and tend to experience stress as eustress (good stress).  Others feel it as distress and hate it.

If you are in the second category, there are several scientifically-proven ways to boost your endorphins and lower perceived stress: low-intensity walking, dark chocolate (works especially well for women), and social laughter (or laughter yoga).  When coping with distress, I found myself seeking relief in some of these measures intuitively, before I even knew the science behind it.   

Physiology (or body chemistry) is the most superficial layer of one’s being and possibly just a mediator of a stress response to a harsh or demanding situation.  In my future posts, I will cover deeper layers that constitute root causes of recurrent stress.  But for now laugh a lot, have some dark chocolate, do a morning walk to get those endorphins flowing, and illegitimi non carborundum.