Stress is part of life. Hopelessness doesn’t have to be.

The evidence

During the COVID-19 pandemic, researchers found people with higher optimism experienced less stress, less health anxiety, and greater wellbeing than those who were less optimistic (Long et al., 2024). The circumstances were hard for everyone; what differed was how people imagined the future.

Why it matters biologically

When you believe improvement is possible, the brain responds differently to today’s challenges — it becomes easier to stay flexible and keep moving. That shift shows up in the stress axis, where the balance between cortisol and the resilience hormone DHEA-S reflects whether your system recovers as fast as it is taxed.

This article is for education and general wellbeing. It is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and does not replace your physician. mindspan is a wellness screen, not a diagnostic test.