Short-term positive effects:
a quick burst of energy
decreased sensitivity to pain
increase in immunity
heightened memory.
Long-term negative effects:
imbalances of blood sugar
increase in abdominal fat storage
suppressed thyroid activity
decreased bone density
decreased muscle mass
high blood pressure
lowered immunity
less able to think clearly.
People’s tolerance of stress varies. A situation that is intolerable to one person may be stimulating to another. What you feel is determined not just by events and changes in the outside world, but how you perceive and respond to them.
The important point is that you can learn to recognise your own responses to stress and develop skills to deal with it well.