Productive vs. toxic stress

⚡ Productive stress feels like: "This is hard, but I can figure it out."
Your heart rate elevates, but your thinking stays sharp.
You feel energized after tackling the challenge, and you sleep well that night. You're stretching your capacity, not breaking it.

📛 Toxic stress feels like: "This is impossible, and I'm drowning."
Your mind races but can't focus.
You feel depleted even after small wins, and your sleep is restless or non-existent.
You're operating beyond your recovery capacity, and your nervous system is stuck in survival mode.