Most people perceive the word “stress” as something negative for the body. But experts in the field of psychiatry also highlight its positive manifestation. In professional language, “good” stress is called eustress, and “bad” stress is called distress. What is their effect on the body? What are their reasons? How do the symptoms appear? And how do eustress and distress differ from each other?
Stress can be both beneficial and harmful
What is stress
A psychophysiological disorder of the body that occurs under the influence of various external factors (both sudden and routine) is called stress. It affects different parts of the body, manifesting itself in different ways. On the part of the nervous system and brain, these are frequent attacks of irritability, outbursts of anger, and apathy. The cardiovascular system responds to shocks by increasing blood pressure and heart rate, which increases the risk of a heart attack. The immune system begins to work weaker. During times of stress, attacks of vomiting and joint pain are possible. Decreased activity, drowsiness, loss of energy and performance accompany the onset of the disease, which can lead to prolonged depression.
The more impressionable a person is, the more stressed he is. The reasons can be very different: beyond the control of a person (chance), controlled (depending on the capabilities of the individual, daily routine, value system, etc.) and unauthorized (created by the person himself). Depending on the phase the disorder is in, a person's condition may differ.
- To cope with type 1 disorders, a person must learn to endure troubles with fortitude.
- To combat the second type of stress, you need to change yourself, work on your character, and set your priorities correctly.
- The most difficult form of stress to treat is the latter. A person invents his own problems. As they accumulate, they lead to brain overload. To successfully combat this type, you need to learn to think positively and become more self-confident.
You should not take this disease, which is at the intersection of psychology and physiology, lightly, considering it a far-fetched problem. In the advanced phase, stress can lead to the destruction of personality in the physical and spiritual senses.
For prevention, it is necessary to periodically distract yourself from everyday and work problems, react less sharply to criticism, enjoy life, and be able to find the positive. If the disease still strikes, contact a specialist. He will select medication treatment. In the initial stages of stress, pills and herbal mixtures like motherwort or valerian help. In advanced cases, treatment with antidepressants, tranquilizers, and beta blockers is required. They give a stronger effect.
There are different types of stress disorder depending on the causes that cause it. Based on their effect on the body, they distinguish between eustress and its opposite – distress.
How to fight?
Basic recommendations:
- Adjust your daily routine. A properly designed daily routine will allow you to devote enough time to rest and sleep, and will help you correctly distribute the load. Lack of sleep in itself is a stress factor, so it is important to sleep at least 7-8 hours every day.
- Reduce your workload and change jobs if necessary. Try to give yourself enough rest while performing work duties, taking small breaks of two to five to seven minutes when you feel you need it. Listen to your own well-being more often, learn to determine when you need to take a time out. If your job requires you to make excessive investments, you should think about finding a new one.
- Spend more time on relaxation and hobbies. Favorite activities, sleep and walks help fight stress. Listen to your favorite music more often, engage in physical activity, walk in the fresh air, watch interesting films, TV series, cartoons, read books and articles, engage in creative hobbies: drawing, writing, dancing.
- Don't put off tasks until later, work consistently. If you put off too many tasks, distress is inevitable.
- During periods of increased stress, take sedatives. This is especially important in cases where you feel noticeable negative consequences of distress: sleep disturbances, appetite disturbances, excessive irritability, inadequate changes in emotional state, headaches.
It is useful to consult a doctor before starting to take the drug: he will suggest the most suitable one, determine the dosage and duration of the course. - Carry out relaxing treatments. In the evenings, take a warm bath more often, adding herbs or sea salt to it if desired. Listen to beautiful, relaxing music.
- If you feel that the problems in your life are unsolvable and overwhelming, consult a psychotherapist. This feeling may be a sign of depression or neurosis. Psychotherapeutic treatment and medication support will help you feel better, so your chances of coping with everything will increase.
- Avoid communicating with unpleasant people who make you feel uncomfortable. Conflict situations are one of the most common stress factors. If possible, break contacts with those who regularly ruin your life.
It is also important to monitor your mental well-being .
If you have been feeling excessively depressed, irritable, and unable to cope with work and daily responsibilities for more than two weeks, you should consult a psychotherapist.
The phenomenon of distress
The concept of distress in psychology implies negative stress in its broadest sense. The transition of a nervous shock to this type of disorder occurs under the influence of a long-term critical emotional experience on the psyche. Distress has an extremely negative effect on a person: somatic diseases often develop against its background.
The causes of distress are spontaneous, natural and functional. They are distinguished depending on the phase of the disease.
Stress can arise suddenly, in connection with some incident, or can be the result of the accumulation of emotional stress over a long period of time.
In psychiatry, depending on the degree of influence on the body and the frequency of manifestation, the following are distinguished:
- psychological and emotional distress,
- physiological distress,
- chronic distress,
- short-term distress
- nervous distress.
Physiological type
It is provoked by external factors: weather, physiological needs (hunger and cold, feelings of love, envy, etc.), household and work matters, etc.
An overly sensitive person often suffers from this type of stress. The result of worries is lack of sleep, constant fatigue, problems with appetite.
Psycho-emotional type
The deterioration of the mental state is caused by the experiences of the individual, which he is unable to cope with. A person transfers his dissatisfaction to his relationships with society.
For example, a person is dissatisfied with his job, but cannot leave it yet, or does not find the strength to leave his comfort zone in order to change his lifestyle. He transfers his dissatisfaction to his relatives and colleagues, sometimes he is rude to random passers-by.
Chronic type
Chronic stress does not require constant reinforcement. The patient is always in a state of despondency, turning into panic.
Over time, chronic distress threatens to develop into a more serious problem: depression or a nervous breakdown.
If a person becomes suicidal during his illness, the case may end up in a psychiatric clinic. The chronic type of disorder is the most dangerous of the types and is not always treatable.
Nervous type
Occurs against a background of nervous tension. It affects both people with an existing diagnosis and those who have never been sick. Overwork, strong anxiety about some upcoming important event are the main symptoms of nervous distress.
Nervous distress may result from overwork
Short term type
Situational disorder, the cause of which is some kind of conflict situation or excitement before an upcoming event of increased importance. Accompanied by a feeling of fear and panic attacks.
Psychiatrists also distinguish such types of stress as informational – a person does not have enough information to make an important decision “here and now” – and managerial – when he is also the main responsible for what is happening. With personal, negative stress, an individual experiences problems that are understandable only to him alone.
Stress symptoms
Almost all modern people are susceptible to stress to one degree or another. But they should not be confused with simple fatigue. Psychological disorder has its own signs.
- Constant psychological stress.
- Irritability, anger, unmotivated aggression.
- Apathy, drowsiness, fatigue during work.
- Memory impairment, problems concentrating.
- Feeling of oppression, unreasonable resentment towards others.
- Appetite disturbance: absence or increase.
If you notice more than four alarming symptoms along with a general feeling of trouble in your body, seek help from a psychiatrist.
Loss of appetite, one of the symptoms of the disorder
Stages of development
At first, the disease may not be noticed, attributing it to ordinary fatigue. However, the tension gradually increases - so far only with direct contact with the stimulus. This stage of anxiety is called the pathogenesis of stress illness. To protect yourself, the body begins to release stress hormones. Wasting energy reduces immunity: the adrenal glands and digestive system become especially sensitive.
In the second stage - the resistance phase - some improvement occurs, but only if the person suffering from a nervous disorder has enough strength. At this stage, hand trembling, sweating, and abrupt movements are characteristic. The main thing is to defeat the root causes. If this fails, the disease will continue to progress.
The last stage is exhaustion of the body. If the patient is unable to cope with the stimulus, he returns to the initial stage, but without the possibility of rehabilitation.
Mental disorder takes over the physical side. The person completely loses sleep, the ability to adapt, and cannot work. Hypogonadism is sometimes observed in men. The consequences can be sad - only treatment with potent drugs in a hospital can save the patient.
Remember that the source of all problems is in our heads. Take care of your nervous system and avoid stress and distress.
Types and symptoms
Distress is clinically manifested by physiological and psychological symptoms.
Physiological signs of negative stress:
- Headaches, dizziness, nausea.
- Difficulty urinating, constipation, diarrhea.
- Decreased or lack of appetite, vomiting.
- Shortness of breath, fluctuations in blood pressure.
- Decreased visual acuity.
- Exacerbation of chronic diseases: a relapse of gastric ulcer or latent infectious pathology may occur.
Psychological signs of distress:
- Mental exhaustion, absent-mindedness, memory loss.
- Frequent mood changes during the day.
- Sleep disturbance, nightmares.
Eustress
Stress has a positive side - it is eustress. It occurs as a result of stressors that are emotionally pleasant to a person. For example, for women, a wedding plays the role of a pleasant stressor, for men, the game of their favorite football team.
Eustress, unlike distress, does not deplete the body, but, on the contrary, “stabs” it. A striking example of eustress is a bathhouse or sauna. Exposure to high temperatures can kill a person. However, if you manage your time correctly, periodic visits to the bathhouse increase the body’s adaptive capabilities. The differences are that this is a dosed, weak load, in contrast to distress, when everything falls on your head at once and the body cannot withstand a strong load.
