Stress is generally considered as being synonymous with distress and defined as “physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension” and thus, put in a negative light. Many people are unaware that there are two categories of stress: Eustress and Distress.
Eustress means beneficial stress that motivates people to accomplish more. The term was coined by endocrinologist Hans Selye, consisting of the Greek prefix eu- meaning "good", and stress, literally meaning "good stress". It is a motivater and provide incentive to get the job done. Everyone needs a little bit of stress in their life in order to continue to be happy, motivated, challenged and productive. It is when this stress is no longer tolerable and/or manageable that distress comes in.
For example, winning a race or election can be just as stressful as losing, or more so. A passionate kiss and contemplating what might follow is stressful, but hardly the same as having a root canal procedure.
As illustrated to the left, increased stress results in increased productivity – up to a point, when the individual perceives that demands exceed the personal and social resources one is able to mobilize - after which things go rapidly downhill.
However, that point or peak differs for each of us, so you need to be sensitive to the early warning symptoms and signs that suggest a stress overload is starting to push you over the hump.
Such signals also differ for each of us and can be so subtle that they are often ignored until it is too late. Not infrequently, others are aware that you may be headed for trouble before you are.
Two key factors distinguish between eustress and distress.
The first one is by the length of time for which we experience it. The body’s stress response is an acute one, meaning it is intended to last only for a short period of time. While those reactions prove beneficial, they turn destructive when they become more chronic, or prolonged. Let’s face it: Many of the things that send us over the edge today are perpetual, daily occurrences, keeping our bodies in this fighting mode, which ultimately leaves us tired, weak and upset.
The second one is how one views a stressful situation. Stressors are deemed positive or negative by the attitude we bring to the table about them beforehand, and as they arise. The moment we begin to feel as though we have lost control of our situation, the harmful effects of stress begin.
We can learn to approach “stressful” situations in a positive and proactive mindset i.e. viewing a stressful situation as an opportunity to improve your skills, knowledge, or strengths. This will make it more likely that you will have a challenge response instead of a fight-or-flight response. By doing so, the body’s stress response can begin to work for you again rather than against you. This, in turn, increases the chance that you will learn from the experience.
Instead of letting bad stress drag you down the path of unhappiness, exhaustion and burnout, use these 11 strategies (http://sumo.ly/iURv) to manage and harness its power in a positive way.
Eustress means beneficial stress that motivates people to accomplish more. The term was coined by endocrinologist Hans Selye, consisting of the Greek prefix eu- meaning "good", and stress, literally meaning "good stress". It is a motivater and provide incentive to get the job done. Everyone needs a little bit of stress in their life in order to continue to be happy, motivated, challenged and productive. It is when this stress is no longer tolerable and/or manageable that distress comes in.
For example, winning a race or election can be just as stressful as losing, or more so. A passionate kiss and contemplating what might follow is stressful, but hardly the same as having a root canal procedure.
However, that point or peak differs for each of us, so you need to be sensitive to the early warning symptoms and signs that suggest a stress overload is starting to push you over the hump.
Such signals also differ for each of us and can be so subtle that they are often ignored until it is too late. Not infrequently, others are aware that you may be headed for trouble before you are.
Two key factors distinguish between eustress and distress.
The first one is by the length of time for which we experience it. The body’s stress response is an acute one, meaning it is intended to last only for a short period of time. While those reactions prove beneficial, they turn destructive when they become more chronic, or prolonged. Let’s face it: Many of the things that send us over the edge today are perpetual, daily occurrences, keeping our bodies in this fighting mode, which ultimately leaves us tired, weak and upset.
The second one is how one views a stressful situation. Stressors are deemed positive or negative by the attitude we bring to the table about them beforehand, and as they arise. The moment we begin to feel as though we have lost control of our situation, the harmful effects of stress begin.
Instead of letting bad stress drag you down the path of unhappiness, exhaustion and burnout, use these 11 strategies (http://sumo.ly/iURv) to manage and harness its power in a positive way.
No comments:
Post a Comment