In her TED talk, Kelly McGonigal provides an alternative perspective on the impact of stress on our health and well-being. Stress is typically associated with higher risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, and other serious health issues. McGonigal proposes that changing the way we think about stress may make us healthier. Typically when one is stressed, their heart beats faster and they may begin to sweat—symptoms we typically associate with anxiety. Could these symptoms be thought of in a positive way? McGonigal shares a study conducted at Harvard University where participants were told that these symptoms were preparing them to accomplish a challenge; for example, breathing faster helps provide the brain with more oxygen. Participants with this belief had a different stress response. Their blood vessels did not constrict in a way that typically occurs (and is one of the causes of heart attacks), but instead, the vessels stayed relaxed. This finding showed that your perception of stress is in fact important. As a health psychologist, McGonigal’s aim is to help us make stress our friend, instead of our enemy. Oxytocin is known as the love hormone; however, it is also part of the body’s stress response, prompting us to seek support. It motivates us to tell someone how we are feeling, to be surrounded by supportive individuals and by people who care about us. Our heart cells have receptors for oxytocin, which helps heart cells regenerate from any stress-induced damage—it actually strengthens the heart! The human stress response also has a built-in mechanism for stress resilience—human connection. McGonigal urges us to think about stress in a positive way—as though our body is preparing for a challenge, and encourages us to seek help when needed. In turn, making us healthier and more resilient. Next time you are stressed out, try to think about how your body is actually preparing you to overcome the task at hand!
-Anjali Parmar
TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend#t-790939