Types OF

STRESS
NIHARIKA KHANDURI
BA (HONS.) PSYCHOLOGY
SAP I’d: 1000012029
 What is Stress?
 Stress is your body's response to anything that requires attention or action.
 Everyone experiences stress to some degree. The way you respond to stress,
however, makes a big difference to your overall well-being.
 According to Lazarus, “Stress reaction depends on how the person interprets
or appraises either consciously or unconsciously the significance of a
harmful, threatening or challenging event.”
 What are the various types of stress?
 On the basis of nature of stress:  On the basis of time duration:
1. Eustress 1. Acute stress
2. Distress 2. Episodic stress
3. Chronic stress
 EUSTRESS (Positive stress)
 Eustress can promote feelings of  Eustress, or positive stress, has the
energy, focus, excitement or
fulfillment. 1.
 It is typically caused by positive 2.
experiences, such as starting a 3.
new job or getting married, birth
of a baby in the family, etc.
4.
5.
following characteristics:
Motivates, focuses energy.
Is short-term.
Is perceived as within our coping
abilities.
Feels exciting.
Improves performance.
 DISTRESS (NEGATIVE STRESS)
 It is a negative stress that causes  Distress, or negative stress, has the following
characteristics:
feelings of worry, fear or anxiety.
1. Causes anxiety or concern.
 Distress is typically caused by 2. Can be short- or long-term.
negative experiences and 3. Is perceived as outside of our coping abilities.
situations, such as losing a job or 4. Feels unpleasant.
when a family member is 5. Decreases performance.
diagnosed with an illness. 6. Can lead to mental and physical problems.
 ACUTE SRESS
 Acute stress, can be helpful in short doses. It is
the body’s response to a recent or anticipated
challenge or unexpected event.
 Symptoms of acute stress include:
1. emotional distress
2. muscle tension
3. headache, back pain, or jaw ache
4. stomach upset
5. rapid heartbeat
6. raised blood pressure
 EPISODIC STRESS
 Episodic stress is when a person experiences
acute stress frequently.
 If one have episodic stress, he may feel like he
is always under pressure or that things are
always going wrong. This can be exhausting,
both physically and mentally.
 Episodic acute stress can lead to:
1. irritability
2. unintended hostility
3. relationship problems
 CHRONIC STRESS
 Chronic stress is ongoing stress resulting
from long-term emotional pressure. For
example, a stressful job, unhappy family
situation, or money problems.
 Symptoms of chronic stress
1. Nervous system arousal
2. If left untreated, may lead to heart disease
and problems with the immune system.