Stress Management Effects on Health Top 10 Things to Know About the Effects of Stress By Elizabeth Scott, PhD Elizabeth Scott, PhD Twitter Elizabeth Scott, PhD is an author, workshop leader, educator, and award-winning blogger on stress management, positive psychology, relationships, and emotional wellbeing. Learn about our editorial process Updated on September 28, 2020 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by David Susman, PhD Medically reviewed by David Susman, PhD David Susman, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist with experience providing treatment to individuals with mental illness and substance use concerns. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print While there's a wealth of information available about the effects of stress, it can be stressful trying to wade through it all! Here are ten important facts about the effects of stress that can go a long way in helping you understand stress and its role in your life. This can help you quickly and easily learn more about the effects of stress and find some effective stress management techniques to incorporate into your life right now. 1 The Wrong Attitude Significantly Increases Your Stress Level Cultura / Matelly / Riser / Getty Images We all experience stress, but the pessimists, perfectionists, and those with 'type A' personalities (to name a few) greatly increase the level of stress they experience in a given event, and even bring more stressful events into their lives with their self-sabotage thought and behavior patterns. If you have some of these tendencies, you can significantly reduce the level of stress you experience with these resources on stress and self-sabotage. 2 Some Types of Stress Can Be Beneficial Thomas Barwick / Getty Images A certain type of stress, known as 'eustress,' is actually necessary and beneficial for a balanced and exciting life. Eustress is the type of stress you experience when you're riding a roller-coaster (if you enjoy fast rides), are playing a fun game, or are falling in love. Eustress makes us feel vital and alive. (Chronic stress, however, is another story!) 3 You Can Stop Your Stress Reaction Right Now JGI/Jamie Grill / Getty Images When you experience stress, all manner of physiological changes occur to get you in top physical shape to fight or run. Unfortunately, if you don't calm yourself down relatively quickly, you could remain in this altered state for too long, and it could take a toll on your health. Practicing stress relievers like breathing exercises and meditation can calm you down quickly, returning your body to normal. This doesn't necessarily solve the challenges that triggered your stress response in the first place, but it does help you to move into a frame of mind where you are better able to handle these challenges with a clear head. 9 Easy Ways to Calm Down When You're Feeling Overwhelmed 4 Even Small Amounts of Stress Can Affect Your Health mattjeacock / Getty Images You may be aware that months spent in a stressful life situation can leave you vulnerable to illness, but did you know that relatively short periods of stress can also compromise your immune system, elevating your risk of illness? Sadly, it's true. What New Findings of Research Say About Stress and Health 5 The Way You Think Can Make You Sick Natalie Faye / Getty Images Negative thought patterns and emotional stress can lead to psychosomatic illness, a condition that's caused at least in part by stress, but has physical symptoms that need to be treated as any other illness does. How Your Stress and Depression Can Really Make You Sick 6 You Can Prevent a Significant Amount of Stress in Your Life Halfway Point Images / Moment / Getty Images Some stress is inevitable, but you can structure your life in ways that buffer you from stress and stressful events. For example, maintaining a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, and having at least a few close friendships are all important ways to relieve stress and stay healthy. 17 Highly Effective Stress Relievers 7 Stress Can Age You Prematurely in Many Ways Pablo Calvo / Getty Images It may be surprising, but stress can be more of a factor in determining your physical age than the number of candles you blow out each year. Stress actually speeds up wear and tear on many, many areas of your body and at all levels, inducing many of the changes we refer to when we talk about aging. Can Stress Actually Take Years off Your Life? 8 Not Everyone Experiences Stress In the Same Way Assembly / Digital Vision / Getty Images Certain inborn personality traits and learned thought patterns can cause two people who live through the same event to experience it very differently, with one person finding it extremely stressful and the other finding it only mildly stressful or not at all. Some of these traits you can't change, but others you can alter to a large degree. Your Personality Type Can Impact Physical and Mental Health 9 Some 'Stress Relievers' Actually Cause More Stress Science Photo Library / Getty Images Most of us have a few less-than-healthy ways of dealing with stress. Unfortunately, most of these 'bad habits' that feel so good at the time can really cause much more stress in the long run. If you smoke, drink in excess, spend too much, or handle stress in a way you know may not be good for you, find resources for understanding how you're affecting your stress levels right now, and find resources for healthier coping. Coping With Stress Is a Simple and Valuable Skill Set 10 By Imagining Your Stress Gone, It Can Be Digital Vision/Getty Images Certain mental stress relief techniques, such as affirmations, guided imagery, and visualizations, involve imagining that your stress is gone. And they work! Explore these and other mental stress relievers, and see which one works best for you. Learn to Evaporate Stress in Less Than a Minute Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Struggling with stress? Our guide offers expert advice on how to better manage stress levels. Get it FREE when you sign up for our newsletter. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 4 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Vollrath M. Personality and stress. Scand J Psychol. 2001;42(4):335-47. doi:10.1111/1467-9450.00245 Kupriyanov R, Zhdanov R. The eustress concept: problems and outlooks. World Journal of Medical Sciences. 2014;11(2):179-85. doi:10.5829/idosi.wjms.2014.11.2.8433 Varvogli L, Darviri C. Stress Management Techniques: evidence-based procedures that reduce stress and promote health. Health Sci Jrnl. 2011;5(2):74. Jallo N, Salyer J, Ruiz RJ, French E. Perceptions of guided imagery for stress management in pregnant African American women. Arch Psychiatr Nurs. 2015;29(4):249-54. Speak to a Therapist for Stress Management Advertiser Disclosure × The offers that appear in this table are from partnerships from which Verywell Mind receives compensation.