Stress
Stress is defined as the physical and psychological responses of your body as you try to adapt to stressors. A stressor is anything that requires you to adapt and cope with either positive or negative situations.
Distress is excess negative stress, caused by fear, anger, confusion, or other similar mood states in one’s life. Distress can increase the risk for chronic disease (such as heart attack) or can make a disease process worse. Distress can produce negative physical responses (increases in heart rate, increases in stress hormone concentrations, headaches, and so on). It can also have negative emotional effects such as anxiety, sleeplessness, and depression, among others.
Eustress is positive stress and is healthy. It is an enjoyable type of stress, such as what you might feel prior to becoming elected class president, scoring well on an exam, or obtaining your driver’s license.
A few ways to cope positively with stress and distress include changing one’s diet (for example, by eating breakfast regularly and reducing caffeine intake), meditation (it can be as simple as reflecting about a pleasant event in one’s life), or engaging regularly in exercise (such as brisk walking, weight lifting, climbing stairs). Dealing with stress and distress in a positive way is something that will challenge you daily for the rest of your life.
