Since life is change, stress is an unavoidable and natural part of living. We all experience stress daily, but each of us responds to stress differently.

Our ability to handle stress depends on:

1. Our biological threshold for stress


2. Our age and health status


3. The meaning and significance we assign to the stressors


4. The number and intensity of the stressors


5. Our ability and skills in dealing with the stressors


6. Our habitual response (emotions and reactions) to stress


7. Our personality and perspectives towards life


8. Our health practice (healthy eating, active living, relaxation, etc.)

WHAT ARE EMOTIONS?

Emotions are the ways we tend to respond to specific situations (stressors). Our past experiences and personal meanings influence our emotional response, which includes our feelings, facial and outer expressions, and the changes inside our body.

It is believed that some emotional responses are essential for survivals.

For example, fear in response to danger helps to trigger our fight-or-flee responses and keep us from harm; and love is essential for bonding between individuals.

WHAT DOES EMOTION HAVE TO DO WITH HEALTH?

Like stress, emotions play an important role in our health. Research shows that positive emotions (e.g. joy, interest & contentment) contribute to better health while negative emotions (e.g. anger, sadness & guilt) lead to illnesses and poorer health.

Since stress intensifies our emotions, persisting negative stressors tend to reinforce negative emotions and lead to serious health problems.

Good News: Research also shows that many holistic health practices can help us to reduce the negative impact of stress and build up positive emotions to promote and maintain our health and well-being.