Show 1009: The Upside of Stress

Stress is bad for our health, isn’t it? It has been linked to everything from psoriasis to asthma to heart disease. It may even make us more susceptible to cancer.

It is no wonder, then, that wellness advocates emphasize stress reduction, whether it is yoga, meditation, a walk in the park or petting a dog or cat. There is nothing wrong with such practices; but what if we could utilize stress to overcome problems and live healthier lives instead of allowing it to undermine us?

Dr. Kelly McGonigal has studied stress and says stress can help us perform better in challenging situations. Learn how to handle it to your best advantage.

This Week’s Guest:

Kelly McGonigal, PhD, is a health psychologist and lecturer at Stanford University. She is also a fitness instructor and a meditation teacher. Her books include The Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It. Her most recent book is The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It.

Her website is www.kellymcgonigal.com