Psychological stress

Psychological stress
Psychological stress
	A man expressing stress

In psychology, stress is a feeling of emotional strain and pressure.^[1] Stress is a type of psychological pain. Small amounts of stress may be beneficial, as it can improve athletic performance, motivation and reaction to the environment. Excessive amounts of stress, however, can increase the risk of strokes, heart attacks, ulcers, and mental illnesses such as depression^[2] and also aggravation of a pre-existing condition.

Psychological stress can be external and related to the environment,^[3] but may also be caused by internal perceptions that cause an individual to experience anxiety or other negative emotions surrounding a situation, such as pressure, discomfort, etc., which they then deem stressful.

Hans Selye (1974) proposed four variations of stress.^[4] On one axis he locates good stress (eustress) and bad stress (distress). On the other is over-stress (hyperstress) and understress (hypostress). Selye advocates balancing these: the ultimate goal would be to balance hyperstress and hypostress perfectly and have as much eustress as possible.^[5]

The term "eustress" comes from the Greek root eu- which means "good" (as in "euphoria").^[6] Eustress results when a person perceives a stressor as positive.^[7] "Distress" stems from the Latin root dis- (as in "dissonance" or "disagreement").^[6] Medically defined distress is a threat to the quality of life. It occurs when a demand vastly exceeds a person's capabilities.^[7]

^ "Stress". Mental Health America. 2013-11-18. Retrieved 2018-10-01.
^ Sapolsky RM (2004). Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers. New York: St. Martins Press. pp. 37, 71, 92, 271. ISBN 978-0-8050-7369-0.
^ Jones F, Bright J, Clow A (2001). Stress: myth, theory, and research. Pearson Education. p. 4. ISBN 9780130411891.
^ Selye H (1974). Stress without distress. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company. p. 171. ISBN 9780397010264.
^ Selye H (1983). "The Stress Concept: Past, Present and Future". In Cooper CL (ed.). Stress Research Issues for the Eighties. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 1–20. ISBN 9780471102465.
^ ^a ^b Selye H (October 1975). "Implications of stress concept". New York State Journal of Medicine. 75 (12): 2139–2145. PMID 1059917.
^ ^a ^b Fevre ML, Kolt GS, Matheny J (1 January 2006). "Eustress, distress and their interpretation in primary and secondary occupational stress management interventions: which way first?". Journal of Managerial Psychology. 21 (6): 547–565. doi:10.1108/02683940610684391.

[1] "Stress". Mental Health America. 2013-11-18. Retrieved 2018-10-01.

[2] Sapolsky RM (2004). Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers. New York: St. Martins Press. pp. 37, 71, 92, 271. ISBN 978-0-8050-7369-0.

[3] Jones F, Bright J, Clow A (2001). Stress: myth, theory, and research. Pearson Education. p. 4. ISBN 9780130411891.

[Selye-4] Selye H (1974). Stress without distress. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company. p. 171. ISBN 9780397010264.

[Selye_1983-5] Selye H (1983). "The Stress Concept: Past, Present and Future". In Cooper CL (ed.). Stress Research Issues for the Eighties. New York, NY: John Wiley & Sons. pp. 1–20. ISBN 9780471102465.

[Selye_1975-6] Selye H (October 1975). "Implications of stress concept". New York State Journal of Medicine. 75 (12): 2139–2145. PMID 1059917.

[Fevre-7] Fevre ML, Kolt GS, Matheny J (1 January 2006). "Eustress, distress and their interpretation in primary and secondary occupational stress management interventions: which way first?". Journal of Managerial Psychology. 21 (6): 547–565. doi:10.1108/02683940610684391.

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