Positive stress is called Eustress and it is a normal part of our everyday life. This type of stress positively affects us and keeps us going. It has a motivational effect and increases our activity and productivity. Eustress is essential for our success and has to be praised.
The other negative type of stress - Distress is the type we usually refer to when we are talking about stress in general. This type of stress has a negative effects on our health as it affects our mind and our body. Distress demotivates us and increases the tension in our body, it prevents us to think clearly and calmly and can have a serious effects on our health. Low levels of this negative stress are constantly present in our lives and we already have a ways to reduce it without even knowing.
Some of these easy stress relief techniques are:
- exercise
- stretching
- controlled breathing
- humor (funny movies, jokes, pranks, ...)
- stress relief games
- stress relief balls
- socializing (being with other people can help greatly when we are trying to reduce the stress)
- meditation
- yoga
- proper nutrition
Probably you will find some activity on this list that you do on a regular basis. So without even knowing you are reducing the negative stress and releasing the tension out of your body.
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Negative stress is what most people consider "stress." It is all of the things that wear us down, worry us, causes anxiety, etc. This could range from anything like a big test in school, a project deadline, getting ready to give a speech in front of a large group of people, etc.
Positive stressors are things that release endorphins and make us calm, happy, relaxed, etc. Getting a job promotion and a raise, getting married, etc.
Good stress, bad stress... Good stress, AKA eustress can be anything that you could consider "good" like winning a game, getting an A+ on that math test you were worried about, finding out that your girlfriend is indeed not pregnant. These are things that feel good to us but they still cause the stress response. Bad stress would be like when you're on a long roadtrip and you have no money and are about to run out of gas, or if you just tripped and fell down a flight of stairs in front of your crush.
Positive
Deciding to pretend to be sick on testing day.
talking anger out on a younger child.
Eating to much food.
Seen yourself in the mirror thinking your fat, went your not fat.
Negative
Using breathing exercises to calm down before a test
saying , I can manage this set back.