Did you know there are good and bad kinds of stress?
Understanding the difference between eustress vs distress is crucial for effectively managing your stress levels. Whether it stems from work, relationships, financial pressures, or internal factors like self-doubt, stress affects us all. While eustress is good stress and can motivate and energize you, distress can take a toll on your mental and physical health if left unmanaged.
While some stress can motivate and foster growth, excessive stress can have detrimental effects on your mental health. Understanding the distinction between eustress vs distress helps in managing stress more effectively, so you can harness the benefits of eustress while minimizing the harmful effects of distress.
Eustress is a constructive form of stress, while distress can cause symptoms that can be harmful if left untreated. Knowing how to tell the difference between these types of stress can help you learn to cope with the different types of stress more effectively, preventing being overwhelmed and having more adverse effects on your mental health.
In this article, we define stress, explore the differences between eustress and distress, and provide strategies for managing stress effectively.
What is stress?
Stress is a physiological response to any demand or threat in your environment. It triggers your body’s fight-or-flight response to prepare you to face any perceived danger. In small doses, stress can be beneficial in helping you stay focused and alert in challenging situations. When stress becomes chronic or overwhelming, it can lead to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression.
Eustress vs. distress
Eustress
Understanding eustress vs distress is key when it comes to managing stress. Eustress is good, positive stress, pushing you to perform well and achieve goals.
Examples of eustress situations include:
- Planning a wedding
- Starting a new job or project
- Taking on a physical challenge like running a marathon
Now that you know some situations that can cause eustress, here is what eustress can feel like.
Symptoms of eustress include:
- Feeling excited and enthusiastic about challenges
- Increased energy and motivation in pursuit of goals
- Improved performance in tasks
- A healthy level of challenge and stimulation
- Sense of accomplishment
- Getting out of your comfort zone to try something new
As you can see in the examples and signs of eustress lists, the feelings associated with eustress tend to be positive. While the goal or task may require a lot of effort and energy and may feel draining at some points, the mental awareness surrounding the effort is upbeat.
Distress
Distress is a harmful stress that can cause negative feelings and emotions. Too much distress can lead to chronic stress becoming your default mode.
Situations that may cause distress include:
- Losing a job or experiencing financial difficulties
- Going through a breakup or divorce
- Coping with a chronic illness or disability
Symptoms of distress include:
- Feeling overwhelmed and anxious
- Difficulty concentrating or making decisions
- Changes in appetite and sleep patterns
- Physical symptoms like headaches, nausea, and muscle tension
As seen above, the general feeling of distress is taxing and weighs heavy on the mind and body. This taxing feeling differs from the effects of eustress, making it easy to tell the difference between eustress vs distress.
Managing your stress in a healthy way
While eliminating stress entirely isn’t possible, you can learn strategies for managing stress effectively, whether it’s eustress vs distress that you’re struggling with. By identifying whether you are experiencing eustress vs distress, you can apply the appropriate coping techniques to reduce the negative impacts and maintain better mental health.
Here are some healthy ways to reduce and cope with stress:
- Reduce overall stress load: Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing and meditation to lower your stress level and help you have more resilience over stress in the future. The more you practice mindfulness and relaxation skills, the more resilient you are at handling stress efficiently. This means that, even with the same amount of stress, you can reduce its impact on your mind and body.
- Reframe negative thoughts and patterns: Identify and challenge self-limiting thoughts that contribute to stress, replacing them with healthier, evidence-based perspectives. Notice if you have self-limiting beliefs, catastrophizing thoughts, or self-sabotage. These are thought patterns learned over time and only serve to keep you in a more strained and stressful state.
- Seek support: Support from friends, family, or an online counselor in distress is highly beneficial when experiencing distress. Isolation from others when you feel distress can intensify symptoms. Being around others who care about you allows you to share your experiences and process your feelings. An online counselor can identify thought patterns or behaviors that you may not see that can contribute to the build-up of stress, making symptoms worse. Your counselor can give you specific techniques for managing stress based on what you have already tried and what can work best for you.
Utilizing these coping strategies can help you reduce stress now and increase your ability to process stress more quickly in the future.
How online counseling can help manage your stress
Online counseling at Makin Wellness can equip you with evidence-based coping skills to manage stress effectively. One of our specialized counselors can help identify the root causes of your stress and provide you with tools and techniques to cope healthily. They can also assist in changing unhealthy thought patterns, improving communication skills, and building resilience in the face of stress.
Standard symptom management techniques include:
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques
- Relaxation and breathing exercises
- Effective communication skills in relationships
After assessing how stress impacts you, your counselor will recommend evidence-backed strategies to reduce symptoms and enhance your resilience. This personalized plan is tailored to your root causes and what will work best for you.
Distress can feel challenging to manage. It can affect your productivity, ability to focus, and many areas of your daily life. A counselor is the first step toward improving your mental health now and in the future.
Conclusion
Understanding the difference between eustress vs distress is essential to managing stress effectively. While eustress can be beneficial in small doses, distress can harm your mental health and quality of life.
By recognizing the signs of both eustress and distress, and applying healthy coping strategies, you can reduce the negative impact of stress and improve your ability to manage future challenges.
If you are struggling with managing stress, call us at (833)-274-heal or schedule an appointment today to talk to a counselor who can help you learn how to create healthy coping skills and reduce stress. It’s time to take care of yourself and prioritize your mental health.
More resources:
Understanding Acute Stress Disorder: A Guide To Coping And Resilience
How To Meditate For Anxiety: Discover The Top 4 Meditation Techniques To Help You Find Peace
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The article “Eustress Vs Distress: The Difference Between Good And Bad Stress” effectively explains the difference between positive and negative stress and the impact they have on our well-being. The use of examples and practical tips provides a clear understanding of how to manage stress. A great read for anyone looking to improve their stress management skills.