Eustress vs. DistressWe mentioned it earlier and it bears repeating: stress is not always a bad thing. Stress is simply the body's response to changes that create taxing demands. The previously mentioned Dr. Lazarus (building on Dr. Selye's work) suggested that there is a difference between eustress, which is a term for positive stress, and distress, which refers to negative stress. Show
In daily life, we often use the term "stress" to describe negative situations. This leads many people to believe that all stress is bad for you, which is not true. EustressEustress, or positive stress, has the following characteristics:
DistressIn contrast, Distress, or negative stress, has the following characteristics:
Examples of Eustress and DistressIt is somewhat hard to categorize stressors into objective lists of those that cause eustress and those that cause distress, because different people will have different reactions to particular situations. However, by generalizing, we can compile a list of stressors that are typically experienced as negative or positive to most people, most of the time. Examples of negative personal stressors include:
Examples of positive personal stressors include:
Work and Internal Sources of DistressWork and employment concerns such as those listed below are also frequent causes of distress:
Stressors are not always limited to situations where some external situation is creating a problem. Internal events such as feelings and thoughts and habitual behaviors can also cause negative stress. Therapists are Standing By to Treat Your Depression, Anxiety or Other Mental Health NeedsExplore Your Options Today Common internally caused sources of distress include:
Habitual behavior patterns that can lead to distress include:
Additional Stress Articles
What is the term for positive stress that energizes you and helps you reach a goal?Eustress is usually a product of nerves, which can be brought on when faced with a fun challenge. Genovese says this is important because, without eustress, our well-being can suffer. “Eustress helps us stay motivated, work toward goals, and feel good about life,” he added.
What is positive stress known as?Positive stress, otherwise known as good stress or eustress, is the type of stress response that we feel when we get excited. Positive stress can also refer to the times you respond well to a challenge that you experience from a stressor.
What are 3 examples of positive stress?Examples of positive personal stressors include:. Receiving a promotion or raise at work.. Starting a new job.. Marriage.. Buying a home.. Having a child.. What kind of stress can motivate and focuses energy?Eustress is what energizes us and motivates us to make a change. It gives us a postive outlook and makes us capable of overcoming obstacles and sickness. Take a second and think about what works as a eustress for you.
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