Major Types of Stress

Types of Stress

Stress refers to the results of the failure of the human body to respond to any kind of demand, whether imagined or actual. When people feel stressed, their bodies react by releasing adrenaline or chemicals into the blood which provide them with more energy and strength. This can be an advantage if the stressed is caused by physical danger. Common symptoms of stress include muscular tension, irritability, and some physical reactions, such as elevated heart rate and headache.

Since stress is the body’s natural function, understanding the different kinds of stress helps you how to deal with stress.

Here are the four major types of stress:

Hyperstress is the type of stress an individual feels when put in a “stressful situation” that is beyond what he or she can handle. This type of stress can be caused by being overworked or overloaded that even little things can generate am extreme emotional response. Individuals who are prone to hyperstress are individuals who are working in a fast-pace environment, and working mothers caught between family and career commitments.

Hypostress is the opposite of hyperstress. This type of stress is experienced by individuals from boredom. Individuals who feel their job are “unchallenging” or those who feel they perform the same job over and over are likely to experience this type of stress. Individuals that suffer from this condition feel restless and find no inspiration or enthusiasm even for family, hobbies and friends, causing them to become overweight due overeating and lack of exercise.

Eustress, another major type of stress, is a short-term stress often referred to as curative stress because it provides the person with the ability to generate the best performance. This type of stress is caused by increased physical activity, creativity and enthusiasm. Feeling exited when watching a horror movie or when planning for a holiday trip is actually an example of eustress. Eurtress is a “positive stress” that results from motivation and inspiration. An athlete experiences this type of stress before a competition.

Distress, in contrast to eustress, is a “negative stress” usually caused by constant changes in a routine or adverse event. This type of stress generates feelings of unfamiliarity and uneasiness, which often affects the person’s ability to cope. Events that lead an individual to distress include death of a loved one, and having financial problems, strained relationships, chronic illnesses or heavy work responsibilities. This type of stress can also be broken down into two: acute stress and chronic stress. Acute stress is a serious distress that comes appears immediately due to a change of routine. Although an intense type of stress, acute stress disappears quickly. Individuals who are constantly changing jobs or relocating may experience distress. A chronic stress, on the other hand, is a long-term stress and affects the body for a long period of time. Like acute stress, this type of stress is constantly experienced by individuals who constantly relocate of change jobs.

Stress can affect both the mind and body. Intense long-term stress may even lead to mental breakdown. A good way to deal with it should start with understanding the different kinds of stress, especially the four major types of stress and identifying what may be causing you to stress.

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