“Discomfort is not the same as stress that makes you sick.” Stress expert Elke Van Hoof on stress that makes you sick, the body’s ability to heal itself, and learning to cope with discomfort.
How do you embrace discomfort without letting it turn into stress that makes you sick? And is every uncomfortable feeling really a reason to panic? Stress expert Elke Van Hoof sees that reflex every day: people who want to immediately push away any trace of discomfort. At the same time, she notices that we’ve lost sight of the distinction. Confusion feels like stress. Discomfort feels like stress. And before long, we’re slapping the label “stress that makes you sick” on everything.
While discomfort is sometimes like muscle soreness after a tough workout: not pleasant, but functional. With rest, recovery, and time, it actually makes you stronger. In this episode of “Stress as a BFF,” Elke clearly distinguishes between three experiences: stress, confusion, and poor functioning. Not every uncomfortable feeling is a warning sign. Sometimes it’s actually a sign that you’re growing.
To make that difference more tangible, she shares a practical tool: the APGAR score. You don’t need to fear stress, but you do need to learn to sense when it’s okay to push through discomfort—and when you’re crossing a line.
