Neustress: How It Shapes Daily Life

What is Neustress?

The term “Neustress” describes a type 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 an itsy bitsy amount of stress does not really overwhelm us.

In reality, there are many advantages to the neutral stress, such as:

• It spurs us to take action
• Tackle tasks with determination
• Forces us to overcome small obstacles.

How Mild Stress Can Be Misinterpreted as Distress?

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, part of everyday life.

Our subjective perception of the situation tends to interfere the reality. Therefore, balance the span of attention and mental energy that we are paying to our problems, and be laser focused on solution.

The Purpose: Separate distress from neustress

Some people make a big deal out of everyday activities.

The purpose behind your struggles to overcome 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 ‘ugh’ to it.

As a result, you start avoiding and running away from your responsibilities, leaving you mentally exhausted and feeling unaccomplished.

On the contrary, if you perceive stress as energy that propels you towards your goals, your body will react in a positive way 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, ‘Neustress‘ in the middle, indicating moderate stress levels, and ‘Distress,’ or Hyperstress, on the extreme right, indicating severe stress levels.

Most of our daily activities are mild level stressors; writing, reading, talking to our loved ones, or even concentrating etc.

Neustress in Daily Life:

Most of our daily life activities does not harm our health. Nonetheless, be aware of daily stressors and your reaction to it, as they can still trigger a big emotional reaction.

For this reason, observe your thoughts, emotions, and reaction to the stressful situation from 3rd perspective to disconnect 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-administered CBT to not let stress get converted into neustress by observing your thoughts, emotions, and behavior.

Thoughts and emotions affecting behavior:

Example: if you see yourself as a failure, your behavior will be adjusted in accordance to your thoughts, which further feeds your emotions.

In such cases, rephrasing your thought to “it is me giving my best that matters and not the result” can be a game changer.

Behavior affecting thoughts and emotions:

There will be times when your mind, overwhelmed 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:

Observe your thoughts, emotions, and behavior and positively reframe them. The energy from negative thoughts is converted into a positive force.

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.

Conclusion:

How to Define Neustress in Short Words? Well, it is the stress which is often experienced during routine activities, like 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):

1. What is Neustress?
   It is a mild form of stress that is neither harmful nor beneficial but experienced during routine daily activities.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. What is the role of neustress 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.
5. 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.

6. Can neustress become distress over time?
   While neustress is neutral, if left unmanaged or if it accumulates, it can potentially transition into distress, especially if an individual becomes overwhelmed by multiple neutral stressors.

7. Are there strategies to manage or reduce neustress?
   Even though neustress is not inherently harmful, practicing mindfulness, setting boundaries, and engaging in regular relaxation techniques can help ensure it doesn’t escalate into distress.

8. How does neustress affect productivity?
   Neustress can serve as a motivator, helping individuals stay alert and focused, thereby enhancing productivity in daily tasks.

9. Is neustress the same for everyone?
   No, what constitutes neustress can vary among individuals. A situation that is neutral for one person might be perceived as distressful or eustressful for another, depending on personal thresholds and perspectives.

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.
• 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.