Dr. Sharon Bergquist

And duration, they're generally brief and intermittent. So our biology was designed for these types of mild to moderate intermittent stressors followed by a period of recovery. What we are not adapted for are the chronic stressors that are prolonged and continuous. These are things like relationships that are difficult, job situations that create a ton of uncertainty.

So those are the three key features.

So those are the three key features.

So those are the three key features.

Yes. How you respond to stress ultimately determines whether that stress is beneficial or harmful. And to take it one extra step, when you are adding these hormetic or these beneficial stressors, they are all deliberate. So you can choose to add good stress and And that can be a way of building your resilience to the types of stress that aren't always controllable or predictable.

Yes. How you respond to stress ultimately determines whether that stress is beneficial or harmful. And to take it one extra step, when you are adding these hormetic or these beneficial stressors, they are all deliberate. So you can choose to add good stress and And that can be a way of building your resilience to the types of stress that aren't always controllable or predictable.

Yes. How you respond to stress ultimately determines whether that stress is beneficial or harmful. And to take it one extra step, when you are adding these hormetic or these beneficial stressors, they are all deliberate. So you can choose to add good stress and And that can be a way of building your resilience to the types of stress that aren't always controllable or predictable.

And that's because the predominant type of stress in our life is the type that's harmful. And what I hope that people realize is when we take on these deliberate good stressors, we are actually mitigating some of that harm. And when we avoid the good kind, we are reducing our ability to handle the types of stress that we always talk about as the kind that's weighing us down.

And that's because the predominant type of stress in our life is the type that's harmful. And what I hope that people realize is when we take on these deliberate good stressors, we are actually mitigating some of that harm. And when we avoid the good kind, we are reducing our ability to handle the types of stress that we always talk about as the kind that's weighing us down.

And that's because the predominant type of stress in our life is the type that's harmful. And what I hope that people realize is when we take on these deliberate good stressors, we are actually mitigating some of that harm. And when we avoid the good kind, we are reducing our ability to handle the types of stress that we always talk about as the kind that's weighing us down.

So one way to really tell the difference is when we go through the harmful types of stress that are so prevalent, we are left exhausted, depleted, we feel more burnt out. Good stress energizes us. It renews us. And literally at the level of ourselves, we now know that we remodel and reconfigure our body in ways where we are prepared to handle future stress better.

So one way to really tell the difference is when we go through the harmful types of stress that are so prevalent, we are left exhausted, depleted, we feel more burnt out. Good stress energizes us. It renews us. And literally at the level of ourselves, we now know that we remodel and reconfigure our body in ways where we are prepared to handle future stress better.

So one way to really tell the difference is when we go through the harmful types of stress that are so prevalent, we are left exhausted, depleted, we feel more burnt out. Good stress energizes us. It renews us. And literally at the level of ourselves, we now know that we remodel and reconfigure our body in ways where we are prepared to handle future stress better.

If a person is dealing with a type of stress that's weighing them down, where they're feeling exhausted and burnt out. For example, if they are in a work situation where they are not getting along with their boss or their team, and that's wearing on them. If a person just perseveres in that situation and feels stuck, that is not a healthy way of saying, hey, stress is good for you.

If a person is dealing with a type of stress that's weighing them down, where they're feeling exhausted and burnt out. For example, if they are in a work situation where they are not getting along with their boss or their team, and that's wearing on them. If a person just perseveres in that situation and feels stuck, that is not a healthy way of saying, hey, stress is good for you.

If a person is dealing with a type of stress that's weighing them down, where they're feeling exhausted and burnt out. For example, if they are in a work situation where they are not getting along with their boss or their team, and that's wearing on them. If a person just perseveres in that situation and feels stuck, that is not a healthy way of saying, hey, stress is good for you.

This is not advocating for being tough in situations where stress is harmful. Instead, if we seek situations of stress that are mission-driven, that align with our beliefs, or that are generative, where we feel we're contributing to a greater good, That type of stress releases a completely different biochemistry, a different set of neurotransmitters and hormones.

This is not advocating for being tough in situations where stress is harmful. Instead, if we seek situations of stress that are mission-driven, that align with our beliefs, or that are generative, where we feel we're contributing to a greater good, That type of stress releases a completely different biochemistry, a different set of neurotransmitters and hormones.

This is not advocating for being tough in situations where stress is harmful. Instead, if we seek situations of stress that are mission-driven, that align with our beliefs, or that are generative, where we feel we're contributing to a greater good, That type of stress releases a completely different biochemistry, a different set of neurotransmitters and hormones.

So, for example, when it's something that is purpose driven, we release dopamine, which is our reward hormone. When it benefits other people, we release oxytocin, which is a bonding hormone. When it's something that brings us joy, we release serotonin. These chemicals and hormones are the trifecta for mitigating cortisol.