Kelly McGonigal’s TED talk inspires to see stress as a friend, because the new science of stress reveals that when you choose to:
1) view stress response as helpful and
2) connect with others under stress,
you change your body’s response to stress and you can create resilience.
Viewing stress response as helpful
Pounding heart, fast breathing and sweating are psychical changes that are often interpreted as anxiety. What if you viewed them instead as signs that your body was preparing you to meet this challenge – your pounding heart is preparing your for action and breathing faster is just getting more oxygen infot your brain? According to a Harvard study, if you view your stress response as helpful, you will feel less anxious, less stressed out, more confident and your physical stress response will change as a result.
In a typical stress response, your heart rate goes up and your blood vessels constrict, which is not a healthy for a long period of time. However, in the study, when participants viewed their stress response as helpful, their blood vessels stayed relaxed. The heart is still pounding, but this is much healthier cardiovascular condition. Actually, this is exactly what happens also in moments of joy and courage. So, next time when your heart is pounding from stress, think to yourself that your body is your friend who is working hard to give strength and help you prepare for this challenge. As a result, your stress response will become healthier.
Connecting with others under stress
Oxytocin is as much a part of your stress response as the adrenalin that makes your heart pound. When oxytocin is released in the stress respond, it is motivating you to seek support. Your biological stress response is nudging you to tell someone how you feel. Your stress response also help you notice when somebody else is struggling, so that you can support each other. When life is difficult your stress response wants you to be surrounded by people ho care about you.