Types of Stress

When we think of stress the image that immediately comes to our mind is the bad stress. The types of stress that, if unchecked, can lead to anxiety and other mental health issues.

However, stress is a necessary part of life, and is necessary for personal and professional growth. This type of stress is eustress. I can think of a few situations, the first day of a new job, receiving a promotion, preparing for a vacation. These may seem overly simplistic, but you get the point.

ALL STRESS IS NOT BAD.

One of the negative stress responses, distress and I think of it as the opposite of eustress. These are the negatives, toxic or unhealthy work environment, suddenly needing a new HVAC and don’t know how to pay for it, the effect of losing my wallet. Again, these are negative, but not cause for concern. While the immediate impact to daily life is negative, a deep breath and time to explore and implement solutions.

Chronic and acute stress are often what comes to mind when we think of stress. Both can potentially result in mental health issues such as anxiety. The two are close enough for the lines to be blurred.

When I think of acute stress the situation that comes to mind post-traumatic stress, and the “fight or flight” response. As a combat vet I am still sometimes startled by sudden loud noises, although I am now retired and have been away from combat for over ten years. It is better than it was immediately following deployment, but my brain and body still registers the same response, even if momentarily.

Chronic stress can be thought of as distress left unchecked. We may work in a toxic environment, and unable to leave the job. The situation then begins to impact our health when we fail to implement coping mechanisms to reduce the impact on our mental and physical well-being. Left unchecked, some physical manifestations include muscle tension, stomach issues and headaches.

At the end of the day:

• Stress is necessary for personal and professional development.
• Bad stress is manageable, it does not have to negatively impact mental and physical health.

Check out the American Institute of Stress for more information and resources.