What's the Difference Between Eustress and Distress
Jessica Bell
Jun 08, 2022
“There is no such thing as a stress-free life. No evidence has ever been presented which suggests that a stress-free life can ever be achieved. Stress can be managed, relieved and lessened, but never eliminated.” —Gudjon Bergmann
Have you ever heard of the terms "eustress" and "distress?" Many people use these words interchangeably, but they actually have very different meanings. In this blog post, we will discuss the difference between eustress and distress and explain how each one can affect your life. We will also provide tips on how to manage both types of stress.
What is stress?
Distress vs. Eustress
Everyday tasks may create taxing demands and stress is simply our body's response to those demands. During this response, the body produces stress hormones that activate the body's fight or flight response which helps us during dangerous situations. Sometimes, stress response is useful in pushing us to get things done.
Contrary to popular belief, not all stress is negative stress. Because we use "stress" as a description for negative situations, this leads to the idea that stress has purely negative affective outcomes when the reality is the complete opposite.
Is there negative stress and a positive stress?
The answer is...yes! There is negative stress and positive stress. The terms for these are called eustress and distress.
Good stress is called eustress is caused by positive personal stressors. It may be a promotion, buying a home, marriage, vacations, holidays, etc. Positive stress has positive effects; it focuses energy, improves performance, and motivates, among other positive outcomes.
Negative stress, on the other hand, is called distress and is caused by negative personal stressors such as the death of a loved one, injury, separation, sleep problems, excessive job demands etc. As a result, distress may cause anxiety, negative emotions, decreased performance and mental and physical problems.
Everybody experiences stress differently; what one perceives to be a positive or negative personal stressor may not be the same to the next person. An individual's stress response may vary too as everyone has different coping abilities and ideas of stressful events. Some may experience stresses more intensely than others.
How can I deal with stress?
There are a few different ways that you can manage stress. First, you can try relaxation techniques. There are many relaxation techniques available online you can try and adopt to your everyday routine to reduce stress levels.
Second, you can exercise. Physical activity has been known to release "happy hormones" and increase self-confidence, improve your mood, help you relax, and lower symptoms of mild depression and anxiety. It may induce positive stress, hence inducing positive feelings.
Third, give yourself breaks. Breaks are needed in daily life to combat bad stress. Enjoy a short walk, your favorite book, or whatever it is that sparks joy in you. By giving yourself short breaks, you are doing your mental health and well being a favor.
Lastly, spend time with friends and family. Your interpersonal relationships can make all the difference in your day to day life. Surround yourself with people that bring positive emotions and positive experiences in your life.
If you are experiencing distress, it is important to seek help from a mental health professional. Mosaic Minds Counseling is here to help if you or someone you know is struggling with stress.
