Q#2 - Different TYPES of STRESS?

There are five main types of stress that people experience.

1. Eustress
2. Distress
3. Hyperstress
4. Hypostress
5. Neustress

1) Eustress
Eustress is a kind of short-term stress that provides immediate strength. Eustress can be defined as a pleasant or curative stress. We can't always avoid stress. There are certain times when we do not want to avoid stress because controlled stress gives us that competitive edge in performance related activities like athletics, giving a speech, or acting, etc.

Eustress arises at points of increased physical activity, enthusiasm, and creativity. Eustress is a positive stress that arises when motivation and inspiration are needed. A gymnast experiences eustress before a competition.

Eustress is a controlled stress that helps give you that extra push that you may need to get the job done, or do your best. Just like you hear some people say they work best under pressure, they are talking about eustress. Eustress can help you focus and concentrate better on the task at hand, giving you that competitive edge, that extra driving force. It can add that measure of motivation to an otherwise dry existence.

The Stress Curve diagram illustrates the concept that, for any performance-related activity, there is an optimal amount of stress. If you are involved in an oral interview for a job, you will benefit from a certain amount of stress. It is stress that provides you with focus and gives you your "competitive edge" that will help you think quickly and clearly and express your thought in ways that will benefit your interview process. Optimum Stress

<---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------> No Stress ........Optimum (Eustress) Stress........Maximum Stress

Examples of Eustress
1. Graduating from college
2. Getting married
3. Receiving a promotion
4. Changing jobs for better prospects
5. Winning competition
6. Buying a new home

Such examples of eustress contribute to individual excellence. The benefits of optimal stress, if handled properly, include opportunity for increased growth and maturity, independence and control.

2) Distress
Distress is a negative stress brought about by constant re-adjustments or alterations in a routine. Distress creates feelings of discomfort and unfamiliarity.

There are two types of distress.

1. Acute stress is an intense stress that arrives and disappears quickly.
   
2. Chronic stress is a prolonged stress that exists for weeks, months, or even years.
   Someone who is constantly relocating or changing jobs may experience distress.

Examples of distress:

• Chronic Pain
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Lack of meaningful friendship
• Cramming for exams
• Having too much to do at work
• Troubled relationships
• Expressed hopelessness, anxiety or grief, etc.

Basically, distress is your body’s way of responding to what it views as a tragic or upsetting event in your life. It can affect both your physical and your mental health, especially for chronic sufferers.

Distress can interfere with your concentration; can lead to excessive absences from school and work, and can often make sufferers become very hard to get along with, even for friends and family members.

3) Hyperstress

Hyperstress is an excessive amount of stress. It occurs when an individual is pushed beyond what he or she can handle. Hyperstress results from being overloaded or overworked. When someone is hyperstressed, even little things can trigger a strong emotional response. A Wall Street trader is likely to experience hyperstress.

The most common sufferers of hyperstress are those who are overloaded trying to juggle children, careers, marriages, so much so, that one more little incidence could very easily push them over the edge. Mothers are often victims of hyperstress, as they may work and care for the home, husband, and children, or they may stay at home, plus juggle marriage and the demands of motherhood.

4) Hypostress
Hypostress is the opposite of hyperstress. Hypostress occurs when an individual is bored or unchallenged. People who experience hypostress are often restless and uninspired. A factory worker who performs repetitive tasks might experience hypostress. Hypostress happens when you suffer from extreme boredom, or when you have nothing in your life that stimulates you anymore. If you go to work everyday at the same time, same place, and perform the same repetitive work, then you are likely to suffer from hypostress. When you lack stimulation or have an unchallenging job or if you are over satisfied with your job, you might be suffering from hypostress.

5) Neustress
Neustress is neutral stress, neither good nor bad. Neustress describes sensory stimuli that have no consequential effect, neither good nor bad. This kind of stress arises when a tornado hits an unoccupied island. It is a kind of stress which has no significant consequence. Also, from the scientific point of view, it has no real meaning.

Next week Q: "What are Stressors?"

About the AuthorA highly acclaimed academician and an active member in various professional bodies, Rajkumar Adukia has been working tirelessly for the cause of the profession. He is a member of the Professional accountants in Business Committee (PAIB) of International Federation of Accountants (IFAC) and the Central Council of the ICAI. He has conducted about 5000 seminars & workshops and regularly contributes articles to newspapers and magazines. He has written books on vast range of topics including Internal Audit, Bank audit, SEZ, CARO, Real Estate, Anti dumping, PMLA and Arbitration Laws. http://www.carajkumarradukia.com


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