{"id":125889,"date":"2022-07-26T11:00:06","date_gmt":"2022-07-26T10:00:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/?p=125889"},"modified":"2023-03-06T09:43:42","modified_gmt":"2023-03-06T09:43:42","slug":"hormetic-stress-can-it-actually-improve-your-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.harleytherapy.co.uk\/counselling\/hormetic-stress-can-it-actually-improve-your-mental-health.htm","title":{"rendered":"Hormetic Stress – Can It Actually Improve Your Mental Health?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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photo by Tim Wilson for Unsplash<\/p><\/div>\n

by Victoria Stokes<\/span><\/p>\n

What is hormetic stress? And is it true that discomfort can be in the name of wellbeing<\/a>?<\/span><\/p>\n

Why you might already know about it<\/h2>\n

Heard a friend waxing lyrical about the benefits of showering in<\/strong> icy-cold water recently? Or noticed that the people you know are suddenly obsessed with HIIT (high-intensity interval training)?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps you have heard about ‘Freeze With Fear’, the new<\/strong> BBC series hosted by Wim Hof, an adventurer known as the Iceman. Or you’ve even watched as he challenges celebrities to brave freezing temperatures.<\/span><\/p>\n

These practices are all based<\/strong> around the concept or hormetic stress.<\/p>\n

What is hormetic stress?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

In a nutshell, it’s a short burst of intense stress designed to make you feel better. If you\u2019re<\/strong> already feeling stressed out<\/a>, it might seem counterintuitive to place your body under more stress. On the face of it, stepping under a freezing cold shower or getting sweaty during a high intensity workout might not seem that appealing, but it\u2019s said to provide physical, mental, and emotional benefits.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A 2020 paper<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/strong> explains that,<\/strong>\u201cHormetic stressors [are] acute intermittent stressors of moderate intensity [that] produce stress resilience<\/a>, the ability for quick recovery, and possibly rejuvenation of cells and tissues.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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In other words, exposing ourselves to these short periods of stress is said to make our bodies stronger and more resilient at a cellular level, restore balance<\/a>, and help us adapt to challenging circumstances with more ease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

A study on ageing<\/span><\/a>, for example,<\/strong> found hormetic stress increased our tolerance for stress, as well as our ability to adapt and cope<\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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photo by Tim Wildsmith for Unsplash<\/p><\/div>\n

Examples of hormetic stress<\/h2>\n

Some examples of hormetic stress include:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n