How stress affects our health

We’ve all read a lot in the media about the ways in which stress can cause illness. We have learnt to expect that people who are under a lot of stress will become unwell, just as we expect those who are chronically ill to feel stressed.  There is significant amount of research that suggests that stress can cause illness by undermining the immune system.  However, it's the amount and type of stress that is the problem, not the stress per se.

We all need a certain amount of stress to function optimally, i.e. “good stress” (also called “eustress”). In good stress situations we feel challenged, and people who feel challenged are more likely to have better morale. We function better under good stress because we feel more confident: we feel positive about demanding situations, and this is reflected in pleasurable emotions. Bad stress (distress) generally involves strong negative emotions and thoughts; it is this stress that a psychologist can help to control.

Some people with an MPD see it as a personal challenge, something to overcome and to fight. Research has shown that this kind of "fighting spirit" is strongly related to positive well-being in people with a wide range of chronic illnesses. Many patients see their MPD as an opportunity to look after themselves, and to concentrate on the areas of their life that they consider to be more important.

Next: Our thoughts about MPDs...and how they affect our behaviour

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