Rethinking Stress: Benefits, Drawbacks, and Psychological Effects

Stress. Just reading that word is probably enough to make a few of us tense up. But what if I told you that stress isn't actually as terrifying as it seems—and can sometimes even work in our favor? Hard to believe, right? Yet it's completely true!

The 'fight-or-flight' response—triggered by what we call the sympathetic nervous system (which, ironically, doesn't feel very sympathetic at all)—is an alarm system our body activates to protect us during stressful or threatening moments. As the name suggests, it urges us to either stand our ground or run for the hills so we can tackle challenges as effectively as possible. To get us primed for these moments, it sends out a series of physical warnings. For instance, when we get overwhelmed, our pupils dilate, blood pressure and breathing rate spike, we break into a sweat, our mouth goes dry, blood sugar surges, our digestive system speeds up, and our bladder feels under pressure... Looked at from an evolutionary standpoint, these reactions—which are probably all too familiar—make perfect sense. They are an ancient gift inherited from our ancestors, designed purely for our survival. When you picture our distant ancestors and the harsh conditions they faced, it isn't hard to see just how useful these bodily alarms really were.

Now, you might be thinking: 'Wait, are we still living in those conditions? Where's the benefit for us today?' True, our modern world looks very different, but stress still offers plenty of perks. Research shows that stress can actually give us strength and courage. You read that right!

Let's take a look at the famous story of Seyit Onbaşı. On March 8, 1915, enemy forces launched an attack to push through the Dardanelles Strait. At a desperate point during the battle, Seyit Onbaşı heaved an artillery shell weighing 275 kilograms—with its firing mechanism broken—onto his back, carried it up a two-meter ladder, and struck an English warship, turning the tide of the battle. Later on, despite trying again and again, Seyit Onbaşı was unable to lift a shell of that same weight. So how was he able to lift it so effortlessly in that moment? Studies indicate that stress boosts endorphin levels, enabling people to function—and tapping into extraordinary physical power—even when severely injured or under extreme duress. Another study revealed that we respond more powerfully and fight harder in high-stress situations than we normally would. Yes, thanks to stress and intense pressure, Seyit Onbaşı tapped into a level of strength far beyond his normal potential! But do we really need to look that far back? Not at all. Imagine you're about to take a major exam, speak in front of a large formal crowd, or see a massive dog sprinting straight at you... Stressful, right? I'm sure you've experienced at least one of these scenarios. But did you notice how much braver you felt in that moment, how laser-focused your attention became, or how quickly your brain was processing information? In the right doses, stress keeps us sharp and energized.

While we've focused on the perks of stress in this article, it certainly has its dark side too. Stress takes a toll on our immune system, making us fall ill much more easily. Sleep disturbances, eating disorders, gastrointestinal issues, and even major conditions like cancer often manifest after a period of intense stress. That's why experiencing everything—including stress—in moderation is key. It's always wise to remember the old proverb: 'Everything in moderation; too much of anything is harmful.' 😊