A certain amount of stress acts as a catalyst for achieving optimum performance. Imagine succeeding at sports or a dance competition or debates or for that matter, even exams without worrying about the competition. It’s the challenge of coming first and beating the competition that gives you that extra edge and helps you win. Without the stress of deadlines, most of you would not be able to harness your capabilities to the maximum and hence would not be able to finish projects or even get to work on time.

Whether your stressful situation is the result of a major life change or the effect of minor everyday hassles, it is how you respond to it that determines if it is harmful or not.

Stress is good only up to a point. After that, it becomes bad stress or distress. When the level of stress, rises beyond a point where you are unable to handle that situation successfully it causes distress. The more the distress the more impaired your functioning will be. The negative consequences of stress can range from mild psychological distress to serious illnesses depending on the severity of the symptoms. In extreme cases, stress could lead to death and other health-related problems such as heart problems, increased blood pressure, even depression and suicide.

Statements such as: `I am no good. I feel I have not achieved anything in my life so far,’ not only give you a feeling of low self-esteem but could also drive you to chronic depression. This gives rise to negative feelings of dissatisfaction, sadness, hopelessness, conflict, helplessness, irritation, anger and confusion, which in turn lower your resistance to stress, making you more vulnerable to various mental disturbances and diseases