Not all Types of Stress are BadLearn about the different types of stress and how stress affects health. Most of us think that stress is all bad - but this is not true. Maintaining the optimal effects of stress is important for you. If I asked "would you like stress in your life...." You would probably think that I was crazy! Many of us are familiar with too much stress and that stress is a bad thing for our health. BUT did you know that stress can be good for you!
For example, the stress that an athlete feels when they performing at their best, or the creative energy that an artist has when in their element; can be quite different to the stress of humiliation, failure, overwork or boredom. Understanding the different types of stress, how to reach and maintain optimal stress levels can improve your overall health and well being. Eustress: Positive types of stressYou probably think that you can do with a lot less stress in your life. However, stress has been integral for survival – e.g. the caveman who narrowly escapes the jaws of a saber-tooth tiger thanks to the boost of adrenaline that stopped him being today’s meal. But surely it is different today? We need stress about as much saber-tooth-hunting gear, right? We do need stress just as much as before. Have you ever felt the thrill and excitement when you won a game? The accomplishment of a challenge? The feeling of being loved? If so, then that extra energy that you feel, the effect of adrenaline coursing through your bloodstream is often felt as excitement or enthusiasm. This type of stress is called eustress – or good stress. Eustress provides that sense of challenge and motivation that can lead to greater performances. It can improve your athletic performance, heightening your awareness and sense of purpose. Similarly, deadlines may be used for students or workers who are unmotivated and finding it difficult to work. Good stress is about remaining alert and rising to the challenges that you face in your day-to-day living. Positive Effects of Stress Stress helps you to focus, concentrate and inspires you towards peak performance. Research also shows that positive stress boosts immune functioning. Learning to see stress as a positive element can help you to see causes of stress as challenge to be met (positive learning experience) rather than an obstacle to overcome (negative outlook). But as you know, too much of a good thing can lead to F’s on an exam and is not great for your tennis game. Too much stress can lead to distress. This distress is often felt as worry and anxiety, and can put you off your performance and lead to poorer health. Distress: Negative types of stressFor most people type of stress is a problem that needs to be reduced. When there is too much stress this is known as "distress". Main Causes of Stress These common types of stress can be broken up into acute stress and chronic stress. Most of us are familiar with acute stress. These types of stress is brief and usually requires an immediate response. However, chronic stress can be unrelenting, continuing on for weeks or even years. That noisy roommate you had last semester, the continual traffic jams on your daily commute, overwork, the constant financial worries or concerns about your job security. These can all cause chronic stress which can harmful to your health.
When we are feeling uncomfortable amounts of stress we are easily distracted and negative thoughts can crowd our mind. Similarly we you can feel tense and worried. Some of the effects of stress include:
Getting into the zone – Optimal stress levelsAs strange as it sounds, you need stress in your life. Stress can be motivating and you need a certain amount of stress to enjoy life. BUT...too many demands can lead to distress. What about somebody who pushed you too hard, or did not push you hard enough? You either felt overworked or bored. Knowing kind of pressure moves you towards peak performance? How do you find the optimal level of stress for you?
The picture to the right illustrates how your performance is related to your overall stress levels. As the level of stress increases we are challenged and our performance increases. When you have the right amount of stress for you and what you are doing, you enter a state of ‘Flow’ – an area of optimum performance. When you are experiencing ‘Flow’ you are able to concentrate and focus on the task that you have to do. In state of ‘Flow’, you perform at your best. Exceeding that optimal level of stress, either through overwork, time pressures, performance anxiety or general over-stimulation, those same demands becomes causes of stress. Attaining optimal stress through stress management techniquesThe main goal of this site is so that you can attain the optimal level of stress for you and the task that you are doing. By entering a state of ‘Flow’ you will perform better, and improve your health and well being.
 This can be done through a trial and error approach.How much work and commitments are you taking on? What is your performance like? Are you feeling challenged or stressed? Asking yourself these questions and monitoring your stress with a stress diary can help you understand your optimal stress levels.
Based on our stress definition, how we view the stressor, matters. This means that if you can reframe the cause of stress as an opportunity to learn, challenge, or stretch yourself, then you are likely to feel less effects of stress. Develop your positive mental attitude and promote your resilience to stress.
 Hypnosis has helped many people to reduce their stress. Hypnosis can be used to promote a deep relaxation and increase suggestibility. Hypnosis can help you to change the way that you perceive stress and develop your confidence and coping ability to deal with stress.
If you are feeling stressed and tense in the body, then this stress management technique can relax your muscles and counter the effects of stress. Often we spend hours hunched over phones and computer terminals, accumulating muscle tension throughout the day, and contributing to fatigue. Progressive muscle relaxation activates the relaxation response by tensing and relaxing different muscle groups. Related Articles
The Fight or Flight Response: Your Body's Reaction to Different Types Stress Cortisol and Stress: The Relationship between Cortisol and Stress General Adaptation Syndrome: The Short and Long-term Effects of Different Types of Stress on Health Stress Health: How Different Types of Stress affect your Health and Wellbeing Stress Causes: Monitor the Types of Stress and Causes of Stress with this Worksheet
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