Knowing the Difference Between Good Stress & Bad Stress

When most people think about stress, they think about the negative effects of long-term, chronic stress. There’s no denying that, without treatment, chronic stress can take a toll on both your current health and increase your risk of long-term problems, including heart disease and infection.

But stress isn’t all bad — in fact, there are some times when stress can be helpful. Knowing the difference between good and bad stress — and seeking appropriate treatment for the bad kind — can help you avoid complications and enjoy better health.

Peter McAllister, MD, FAAN, and our empathetic team at Ki_Ketamine help patients manage bad stress — the kind associated with anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Here’s how to tell if you’re suffering from “bad” stress and how ketamine infusion therapy can help.

Good vs. bad stress

Stress is an essential part of your body’s natural protection system, releasing hormones that support the fight-or-flight response that helps you react quickly in a threatening situation. This aspect of stress is important for keeping you out of danger, and the reactions it causes — for instance, increased heart rate and respiration — don’t cause long-term problems.

To some degree, experiencing “good stress” helps you adapt and respond better to similar situations in the future. In that regard, it may even help you become more resilient, which means that when you’re confronted with a similar situation again, you won’t be as stressed.

The immediate nature of this type of stress is short-lived, and once the stressful trigger passes, your hormone levels revert to normal — and so do your blood pressure, heart rate, and respiration. But when you have stress on a regular or repeated basis, you can wind up with “bad” stress, a chronic state that can cause significant problems with your health and wellness.

The problem with bad stress

Like good stress, bad stress triggers the release of hormones that support the fight-or-flight response. Those hormones serve a critical purpose for short-lived good stress, but for chronic stress, hormone levels remain heightened.

Over time, elevated levels of stress hormones lead to higher blood pressure and heart rate, along with digestive problems, depression, anxiety, headaches, and even lowered immunity. Chronic stress disrupts sleep, making it harder for your body to relax and repair the damage incurred during the day.

Worse, when stress affects your mood and your sleep, it’s much harder for you to cope with stresses — even everyday minor inconveniences can grow to burdens that trigger additional stress and increase your risk of health-related problems. 

Without effective management, the stress cycle can be difficult to break, making you prone to more serious health issues, including heart disease and hypertension.

Ketamine for chronic stress

Ketamine infusion can be extremely effective in helping people manage chronic stress and reduce its risks. Traditionally used as an anesthetic, ketamine has emerged as a potent yet safe treatment for an array of emotional health issues and mood disorders, like anxiety and depression, two emotional side effects of chronic stress. 

Ketamine works by increasing the amount of a chemical called glutamate that’s naturally present in your brain. Glutamate plays a big role in helping you manage your mood, including the anxiety you feel when you experience chronic stress.

Glutamate also encourages neuroplasticity, your brain’s ability to create new nerve pathways. Neuroplasticity helps your brain adapt and improves its resilience, particularly when confronted with new or stressful experiences. Greater adaptability enables you to cope better and supports more positive thought patterns, short-circuiting the stress response.

Our team customizes ketamine infusion therapy based on each patient’s unique needs. Over time, this therapy can offer a long-lasting solution and an improved quality of life.

Don’t let stress damage your health

While occasional “good” stress can help motivate you to achieve your goals, chronic stress can take a negative toll on both your physical health and your emotional wellness. 

To learn how ketamine therapy can help you manage your stress successfully, request an appointment online or over the phone with Dr. McAllister and the team at Ki_Ketamine in Stamford and Westport, Connecticut, today.