The upside of stress

Stress seems to have a newly discovered negative effect once a week, lately. First there were the obvious things like stomach aches and headaches, but now that stress has also been linked to weight gain, diabetes, and hair loss, I'm stressing out about stressing out!

Time for a little bit of positive news: some stress can actually be good for you. Small to moderate amounts of stress can improve your memory, strengthen your heart, and make your body resistant to infection. Why? These are effects of the chemicals your body produces in a "fight or flight" response to difficult situations, helping us to function at our peak condition for short periods of time.

To gain the maximum benefits and fewest negative effects from the stress in your life, focus your energy on the task at hand when you're feeling stressed about something specific, and learn to let go of the tension when a stressful situation is beyond your control.