Differences between eustress, distress and stress

The differences between eustress, distress and stress have a lot to do with the physiological correlate. And stress is not always bad.

In daily life, we often use the term “stress” to describe negative situations. This leads many people to believe that all stress is bad, which is not true. Stress is simply the body’s response to changes that create demanding demands.

On the other hand, Dr. Lazarus, drawing on the work of Dr. Selye, suggested that there is a difference between eustress, which is a term for positive stress, and distress, which refers to negative stress.

Everyone will experience some type of stress during their life. However, We must differentiate these two separate categories of stress: eustress and distress or anguish. We are going to explain what each one consists of and its impact on health.

What is stress?

Stress is the body’s physiological response to stressors that create demanding demands and throw us off balance. A stressor can be a change, threat, or pressure that we perceive.

It is important to note that stress is necessary for better survival. Many thousands of years ago, people needed the stress response to stay alive and fight off threats. And although currently the context is different, it also has its function.

The fight or flight response speeds up the heartbeat, blood pressure and breathing rate, inhibits digestion and increases blood sugar levels to provide energy to the muscles and focus our minds. This sequence of changes allows us to fight or flee from danger in stressful situations.

Now, most of the types of stress we experience come from ourselves today. These are psychological tensions and ruminations. Thus, when we perceive a threat, such as an upcoming exam or excessive work demands, we begin to feel stressed.

Eustress: what does it consist of?

Eustress is a relatively new concept that describes a positive, useful and motivating type of stress. Unlike distress, eustress motivates people to work, improve their performance, and achieve their goals, even in the face of challenges.

Both stress and distress activate the fight or flight response in the body and brain. The difference is that In eustress, the energy generated is proportional to what the situation demands; while in distress, the release of energy occurs in an poorly adjusted manner.

When a person feels confident in their ability to overcome the stressor, they are more likely to experience positive stress.. This positive appraisal of the stressor helps them channel the energy provided by the fight or flight response into ways that help them work on a solution.

Some ways to create eustress

Try something new, such as a hobby or an activity with new people. Engage in physical performance activities. Prepare for new learning, such as a language or work-related course. Set challenging but realistic goals. Take on a new responsibility in work.Organize oneself a social activity.

While eustress is beneficial, it can turn into distress when a situation becomes too overwhelming. or when other stressors occur at the same time. If this occurs, it is advisable to use stress management techniques.

What is distress?

Distress describes the type of negative stress that most people associate with feeling “stressed.” This type of response tends to make people feel overwhelmed, anxious, and experience physical and psychological symptoms, such as headaches, tension, insomnia, inattention, or irritability.

Frequent, intense or chronic stress is toxic to the body and brain. For this reason, it is related to a series of physical diseases and psychological disorders, in addition to affecting functional capacity.

The difference between stress and distress has to do with the stressors that trigger the response and how the person evaluates them. Distress occurs when a person assumes that stressors are not under their control. or your ability to fix or change it.

People who experience distress tend to feel overwhelmed and helpless, and because they have not found a viable solution, they tend to return to worrying and manifest other unproductive responses. Some of the most common sources of distress are the following:

Lack of money.Job dissatisfaction.Political climate.Future of the economy.Violence or crime.Technological media overload.Illness or physical health.Conflicts in social relationships or loneliness.Sleep problems.Poor or unsatisfactory nutrition.Continuous moving.

Impact of distress

Distress often negatively impacts a person’s mood, health, and functioning. When distress is chronic and recurrent in nature, Increased cortisol levels can cause a series of physical and psychological diseases and problems:

Difficulty falling or staying asleep. Physical pain or discomfort (such as headaches, stomach problems). Changes in appetite. Increased heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. Difficulty concentrating or remembering things. Feeling nervous or restless. Frequently, being exhausted or exhausted. Having intrusive thoughts that are racing or repetitive. Not feeling present or involved in activities and tasks. Irritability or lower tolerance for frustration. Increased anxiety.

The longer the distress continues, the more severe the impacts and impairments become. Prolonged exposure to negative stress is related to the following aspects:

Impaired functioning in one or more areas of life. Increased risk of mental illnesses such as anxiety and depression. Chronic use of painkillers and anxiolytics. Increased risk of illegal substance use disorders. Increased risk of chronic diseases, heart disease and cancer. Increased mortality.

Most of us have felt distress in response to situations that are upsetting or overwhelming, making total prevention an unrealistic goal. Even so, It is possible to protect ourselves against the negative effects of anxiety when it is inevitable and use strategies that can transform this into eustress.