Picture this: you’re sitting in traffic, scrolling through your email inbox, walking, reading, or even focusing on your screen right now. These everyday scenarios might seem far from extreme stress, yet they’re part of life.
In these seemingly mundane moments lies “Neustress.” It is the mild, almost unnoticeable stress you encounter during regular life activities.
But here’s the catch: Neustress isn’t the enemy. It can boost your creativity, propel you to excel, and even stimulate your focus in a stressful situation.
What is Neustress?
The term “Neustress” describes a kind of stress that is neither detrimental nor low intensity. It is that neutral or mild level of stress that does not significantly affects our mood, arising from everyday situations.
Our bodies are so used to dealing with stress that an itsy bitsy amount of neustress does not really overwhelm us.
In reality, there are many advantages to the neutral stress, as it spurs us to take action, tackle tasks with determination, or forces us to think quickly to overcome obstacles.
How Mild Stress Can Be Misinterpreted as Harmful?
Sometimes, mild stress(neustress) can be misinterpreted as harmful because it still feels, somewhat, uncomfortable, though not as significantly as distress. This misinterpretation can lead to unnecessary worry or anxiety about situations that are, in reality, just part of everyday life.
Our subjective perception of the situation tends to interfere the reality. Therefore, it is advisory to balance the span of attention and mental energy we are paying to our problems abd be laser focused on solution.
The Purpose: Separate distress from neustress
The purpose you have chosen for your struggles and how you react decides whether your body perceives the stress as helpful(neustress) or harmful(distress).
Example: If you perceive the stress you experience from working towards your goals as harmful, your body automatically attributes feelings of ‘avoidance‘ or ‘bad’ to it. As a result, you start avoiding and running away from your responsibility, leaveing you mentally more exhausted and feeling unaccomplished.
On the contrary, if you were to think of stress as something that would get you closer to your goals, your body attributes positive stress to it, which could be experienced in the form of random bursts of energy or getting motivated to start working again.
Eustress Vs. Neustress vs. Distress:
The stress meter has ‘Eustress‘ on the far left, indicating low levels of stress, and ‘Neustress‘ in the middle, indicating moderate stress levels, and ‘Distress,’ or Hyperstress, on the extreme right, indicating severe stress level.
Most of our daily activities are mild level stressors; writing, reading, talking to our loved ones, sitting, or even concentrating etc.
Neustress in Daily Life:
Most of our daily life activities does not harm our health. However, It is important to be aware of daily stressors and your reaction to it, as they can still trigger a big emotional reaction.
To do this, observe your thoughts, emotions, and reaction to the stressful situation, from 3rd perspective, to diconnect from the emotional turmoil. (taken from The Power of Now: Eckhart Tolle)
A Possible Solution to daily stressors?
Focus on the next step in your journey, not the end.
A long journey consists 90% of you working hard towards your goals and 10% enjoying the fruits of labor. Do not delay your happiness till the end: the 10%, rather enjoy what you have in present; family time, friend’s company, what you encounter whilst working towards your goals, etc.
Self-CBT: A Coping Mechanism for Distress
You can use Self-CBT to not let distress get converted into neustress everytime by observing your thoughts, emotions, and behaviour.
Thoughts and emotions affecting behaviour:
Example: if you think of yourself as a failure, your behavior will be adjusted in accordance to your thoughts.
However, if you reframed your thought to “it is me giving my best” that matters and not the result, your behavior will follow along.
Behaviour affecting thoughts and emotions:
There will be times when your overwhelmed mind, from anxious thoughts, finds it difficult to think of anything positive, and you would be left distraught.
In those times, it doesn’t matter what your feelings or thoughts are telling you, it is your behavior that matters; how you act or respond to a situation.
For Example: In a near-death situation, a person’s intuition and senses are too strong to be controlled by his fear. His mind automatically starts looking for a way out and does anything to pull him out of the danger.
Solution:
Closely observing and adjusting your thoughts, emotions, and behaviours. When negative thoughts arise, such as feeling like a failure, reframing them positively can alter your behavior.
For instance, focusing on doing your best instead of fixating on the outcome can help shift your mindset. Similarly, when overwhelmed, focusing on constructive actions instead of negative feelings can redirect your energy toward positive outcomes.
Benefits
Mental Health
Neustress contributes to overall mental well-being by serving as a preventive measure for unnecessary issues, such as overthinking.
Helps develop resilience and adaptability.
Utilise it to get more closer to your goals and build your character by facing difficulties.
Reduce the cumulative impact of stressors on mental health over time.
Physical Health
Neustress contributes to overall physical well-being by reducing the wear and tear on the body from past chronic stress.
Enhance sleep quality, essential for physical health and immune function.
Reduced attention to negativities can lead to fewer physical problems.
Reduction of anxiety and depression can positively impact your physical health over time.
Conclusion:
How to Define Neustress in Short Words? Well, it is the type of stress that is often experienced during routine activities such as commuting or dealing with a filled email inbox, etc. Rather than being harmful, it offers several advantages, including boosting creativity, or motivating individuals to perform at their best in specific contexts.
In terms of mental health, it can reduce the cumulative impact of stressors over time through boosting one’s confidence, enhancing resilience, and adaptability.
In terms of physical health, it contributes to overall well-being, improving sleep quality, and promoting better movement.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
- What is neustress, and how does it differ from distress and eustress?
It is a mild form of stress that is neither harmful nor beneficial but experienced during routine daily activities. It differs from distress, which is harmful, and beneficial eustress. - How can neustress be beneficial in daily life?
It can boost creativity, stimulate cognitive processes like problem-solving, and motivate individuals to excel in specific contexts, such as the workplace. - How does one distinguish neutral stress from harmful in daily life?
Recognition involves observing one’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviour in response to a situation. It may feel uncomfortable but is not causing significant harm. Differentiating the two is essential for effective stress management. - What is the role of neu-stress in mental health?
It acts as a buffer against more harmful forms of stress and can prevent various mental health issues. Managing it helps build resilience and adaptability, and contributes to better mental well-being. - How does mild stress impact physical health and the immune system?
It positively impacts physical health by reducing the wear and tear on the body associated with chronic stress, improving sleep quality, and enhancing cognitive function. It also boosts the immune system, leading to better resistance to illnesses and fewer stress-related physical health problems.
References:
- Lazarus, R. S., & Folkman, S. (1984). Stress, Appraisal, and Coping. Springer Publishing Company.
- Selye, H. (1974). Stress without Distress. JAMA, 230(9), 1036.
- American Psychological Association. (n.d.). Stress Effects on the Body. Retrieved from https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/body
- Dhabhar, F. S. (2018). The Short-Term Stress Response – Mother Nature’s Mechanism for Enhancing Protection and Performance under Conditions of Threat, Challenge, and Opportunity. Frontiers in Neurology, 9, 1–10.
- Jamieson, J. P., Nock, M. K., & Mendes, W. B. (2012). Mind over matter: Reappraising arousal improves cardiovascular and cognitive responses to stress. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, 141(3), 417–422.
- Epictetus. (n.d.). Stoic philosophy.
- APA Dictionary of Psychology. (n.d.). Neustress. Retrieved from https://dictionary.apa.org/neustress
Mental Health Help:
National Helplines:
- National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
- Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
- SAMHSA’s National Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
Online Resources:
- NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness): https://www.nami.org
- MentalHealth.gov: https://www.mentalhealth.gov
Local Resources
When looking for mental health support, it’s often best to start locally. Many communities have mental health clinics, hospitals, and community centres that offer counselling and therapy services. You can find these services by searching online directories, like Psychology Today’s Therapist Finder, which allows you to filter results by location, specialty, and insurance coverage. Additionally, your primary care doctor can be a valuable resource, as they can refer you to local mental health professionals or services that meet your needs.
How to Find Help
Finding the right mental health help can be overwhelming, but there are several ways to simplify the process:
- Online Directories: Websites like Psychology Today, GoodTherapy, and Therapist Finder offer comprehensive directories of mental health professionals. These platforms let you search by location, issues treated, and insurance acceptance.
- Health Insurance Providers: Your health insurance provider can give you a list of covered mental health services and providers, ensuring you receive care within your network.
- Healthcare Providers: Don’t hesitate to speak with your primary care physician or a general practitioner. They can provide referrals to trusted mental health professionals or guide you on how to access the services you need.
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