Use Stress To Fight Stress

Intense exercise releases stress hormones, including adrenaline, and the resulting buzz can buffer you from future stress in other domains.

You’re going to think we’ve been smoking a different kind of drug when you hear this, but the truth is that all stress isn’t necessarily bad for you. As with food, sex, and shoes, it’s quality, not quantity, that plays a major role in whether stress helps or hurts. Beneficial stress comes in the form of an acute, stimulating surge, like when your kayak rounds a bend in the river and you suddenly catch sight of some seriously churning rapids.

A single adrenaline burst that comes and goes very quickly is a good thing because it gives you energy and gets you ready to mobilize for immediate action. Whether you’re jumping off a canyon wall strapped into a hang glider or rushing in to a rescue a child who’s about to toddle into oncoming traffic, adrenaline created by an abrupt blast of stress sends a flood of oxygen-rich red blood cells through your body, boosts your immune system, and signals your brain to start releasing painkilling endorphins.

Bad stress, on the other hand, is intense and drags on and on. That kind of constant grind can cause your adrenal glands to leak a slow, steady stream of another stress hormone: cortisol. Unlike adrenaline, which tends to hit your system in a flash and then dissipate, cortisol often wears out its welcome by hanging around in your blood-stream, driving up your blood pressure, suppressing your immune system, and making you more susceptible to a slew of stress-related ailments, including colds, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, and even heart disease and stroke.

There are three ways to boost your buzz.

1. Push your limits. Workout-wise, it’s not enough just to take your Schwinn out for a spin around the park. The track has to be unpredictable and even slightly dangerous. Putting yourself through the paces of mentally challenging situations – like give an important speech while gazing out over a sea of strange faces, or tackling an intimidating new project at work – can also trigger the same stress response and protect your brain against future freak-outs.

2. Go for active relaxation. No, that’s not an oxymoron. The traditional approaches to winding down- meditation, deep breathing, a round of tequila shots- can certainly take the edge of stress. But getting your adrenaline pumping is going to require a little more action than that. Consider weight lifting: Even though it’s low impact, if you give it 120 percent and continue working toward improving your bench press, you’ll get a jolt of your power hormone.

3. Buddy up. Maintaining the flow of dopamine and endorphins is what keeps your stress response in check during pressure-cooker situations. Research shows that working out with pal helps distract you from negative cues and keeps you focused on the fact that what you’re doing is insanely fun.