Differentiating Stressors & Stress Responses for Improved Well-being

By: Ana Melikian, Ph.D. | Posted in: Podcast Episodes | June 2nd, 2023

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“If you can see the space between stimulus and response, you start having the power to choose your response. This is the core of self-leadership and your self-development”
– Ana Melikian

What is the difference between a stressor and a stress response? The answer—that the stressor is what triggers the stress response—may be simple and obvious, but it isn’t something apparent to us when we’re in a stressful situation ourselves. Sometimes, we even deal with the stressor but forgo dealing with the stress response and get stuck in a never-ending stress cycle. Understanding the difference between a stressor and a stress response and widening the space between the two can help unlock better possibilities for us—and improve our well-being.

In this episode, I highlight the difference between stressors and stress responses and dissect an excerpt from the book, Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle. I outline everyday examples of stress triggers and describe our tendency to carry our stress response beyond the situation. I also explain how physical activity can help us complete our stress response without getting stuck in the stress cycle and underscore how practicing the Pause principle allows us to see and widen the space between stressor and stress response.