Question

Give the definition of stress and explain different types of stress.

Answer 1

The word stress is derived from the Latin word 'Stringi' which means 'to be drawn tight'. According to Richard Lazarus 'stress is a feeling experienced when an individual feels that the demands exceed the personal and social resource that he/she is able to mobilize.'

The types of stress are -

1. Hypostress - It refers to an insufficient amount of stress which leads to under-stimulation and the person gets bored, restless, and demotivated. It is different from leisure (time for relaxation after the period of work).
2. Hyperstress - It refers to high levels of stress which leads to panic attacks, frustration, or exaggerated reactions.
3. Eustress (good stress) - It is positive stress which has a beneficial effect on motivation, performance, and emotional well-being. The body is flooded with Dopamine and Oxytocin.
4. Distress - It is negative stress where the body is flooded with emergency response hormones like Cortisol and Adrenaline.
   The two kinds of distress are:

• Acute distress - intense, short term negative stress, e.g., news of the death of a relative.
• Chronic distress - long lasting, recurrent negative stress, e.g., Mina suffers from thalassemia.