STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

It’s no secret that stress can be a health killer. What is less well known is how people can optimize good stress and minimize bad stress to promote health and well-being.

Dr. Firdaus Dhabhar, professor of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at the University of Miami Health System, will discuss the latest research on that subject in a free presentation at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at Ketchum’s Community Library.

Her talk is being presented by Casting for Recovery, Expedition Inspiration and River Discovery, three organizations that work with cancer survivors in Idaho’s outdoors.

Dhabhar will also talk in Boise the evening before.

Dhabhar will discuss research on the previously unappreciated protective effects of short-term, fight-or-flight stress and their practical applications, key characteristics of chronic stress and its harmful effects.

And she will talk about the Stress Spectrum, which explains the balance between the protective versus harmful effects of stress. Dhabhar will also offer suggestions for optimizing your Stress Spectrum.

For more information, visit www.riverdiscovery.org.

THE PLAYERS:

Casting for Recovery is a non-profit organization that has provided educational, recreational and emotional support programs revolving around fly-fishing to breast cancer survivors for more than 20 years.

Expedition Inspiration conducts hikes, climbs and other fundraising events for breast cancer survivors and others to spread awareness and hope regarding breast cancer. Money from these events goes to fund an annual symposium held in Sun Valley designed to find breast cancer cures.

River Discovery offers outdoor adventures for cancer survivors to promote healing.