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Module I: Stress: 1.) Meaning & Nature of Stress Meaning

The document discusses stress, defining it as a physical, mental, or emotional factor that causes tension. Stress can be eustress (positive stress) or distress (negative stress). Stress is associated with constraints and demands, and requires uncertainty over outcomes and importance of outcomes to become actual stress. Stress differs from anxiety, nervous tension, and burnout. Stress can be acute, distant, or chronic. Characteristics of stress include being universal, individual, providing stimulus for growth, and affecting all dimensions of life. Stress can have positive or negative effects.

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Ashutosh Agal
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176 views

Module I: Stress: 1.) Meaning & Nature of Stress Meaning

The document discusses stress, defining it as a physical, mental, or emotional factor that causes tension. Stress can be eustress (positive stress) or distress (negative stress). Stress is associated with constraints and demands, and requires uncertainty over outcomes and importance of outcomes to become actual stress. Stress differs from anxiety, nervous tension, and burnout. Stress can be acute, distant, or chronic. Characteristics of stress include being universal, individual, providing stimulus for growth, and affecting all dimensions of life. Stress can have positive or negative effects.

Uploaded by

Ashutosh Agal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOC, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Module I: Stress

1.) Meaning & Nature of Stress

Meaning-

Stress: In a medical or biological context stress is a physical, mental, or emotional


factor that causes bodily or mental tension. Stresses can be external (from the
environment, psychological, or social situations) or internal (illness, or from a
medical procedure).

Nature-

1. Stress is a Neutral Word:

Stress is not bad in itself. But when stress is created by undesirable outcomes, it
becomes Distress. On the other hand, if it is created by desirable and successful
effects it is called Eustress. Eustress is a healthy, positive and developmental stress
response. It is primarily the Distress form of stress which requires examination and
steps to cope with it; because distress is generally associated with heart disease,
alcoholism, drug abuse, marital problems, absenteeism etc.

2. Stress is Associated with Constraints and Demand:

Constraints prevent an individual from doing what he or she desires. If a person


wants to buy something, but he does not have the necessary cash, it is a constraint.
Demands refer to the loss of something desired. If a person wants to go and watch
a movie, but he is unable to do so because of pressing official work, it amounts to a
demand. Both Constraints and Demands can lead to potential stress.

3. Two Conditions are Necessary for Potential Stress to Become Actual Stress:

(i) Uncertainty over the outcome, and

(ii) Outcome must be important.

Stress is usually very high when there is uncertainty over the outcome and the
outcome is very significant. Both these conditions are necessary. If there is no
uncertainty but the outcome is significant, there will not be any stress. On the other
hand, if there is uncertainty, but the outcome is not significant, there will again be
no stress.

4. Stress is not Simply Anxiety:

Stress may be accompanied by anxiety, but the two are not synonymous. Anxiety
is psychological and emotional whereas stress operates in the physiological sphere
also along with psychological sphere.

5. Stress should also be Differentiated from Nervous Tension:

Nervous tension may be a result of stress. Stress is a subconscious action. Even


unconscious people have exhibited stress, whereas nervous tension is a conscious
action. People may “bottle up” their emotions and not reveal them through nervous
tension.

6. The Term “Burnout” is also Closely Associated with Stress:

Some researchers contend that burnout is a type of stress, but others treat it
differently. Burnout is closely associated with helping professions like nursing,
education and social work, it is characterised by emotional exhaustion,
depersonalization and diminished personal accomplishments. Even though
technically, burnout is different from stress, these are generally used
interchangeably.

Levels of Stress:

1. Eustress:

Eustress is the healthy, positive and developmental stress response. This may lead
employees to new and better ways of doing their work. It denotes the presence of
optimum level of stress in an individual. Under optimum level of stress the
employees will perform to his full capacity.

2. Distress:
Distress is the unhealthy and negative stress response. It denotes the presence of
high level of stress in an individual which affects his performance and efficiency
adversely.

2.) Characteristics of Stress

Stress Characteristics

1. It is a universal phenomenon.

2. It is an individual experience.

3. It provides stimulus for growth and change.

4. It affects all dimension of life.

5. It is not a nervous energy.

3.) Types of Stress

1.ACUTE STRESS

Acute stress is usually brief. It is the most common and frequent presentation.
Acute stress is most often caused by reactive thinking. Negative thoughts
predominate about situations or events that have recently occurred, or upcoming
situations, events, or demands in the near future.

 Natural disasters, such as floods, fires or earthquakes.


 Physical or sexual assault.
 Car accidents.
 Sudden death of a loved one.
 Receiving a life-threatening diagnosis.

2.Distant stress

Distant stress is type of chronic stress related to discrete circumstances that took
place in the past, but the effects of which continue to have negative effects on the
individual and the immune system because of thought processes and emotions
associated with the stressful experience .
 Child abuse.
 Prisoner of war.
 Loss of a loved one.
 War trauma.

3. Chronic stress-

Chronic stress, on the other hand, cannot be easily mediated or resolved by a


change in behavior or escaping from a situation. Chronic stress is ongoing and
sustained over a longer period or may be more intense than other types of stress .
An example of chronic stress is caring for a partner with cancer for several years.
An individual cannot escape from the situation, nor can changing one's behavior
resolve the challenge.
 The death of a loved one.
 Divorce.
 Loss of a job.
 Increase in financial obligations.
 Getting married.
 Moving to a new home.
 Chronic illness or injury.

Positive effects of stress

 It boosts brainpower.
 It can increase short-term immunity.
 It can make you stronger.
Negative effects of stress
 Generate unpleasant emotion .
 Promoting negative thinking.
 Narrowing attention .
 Preoccupation.
 It consumes mental energy.
 Interpersonal problem.
 Lack of motivation.
 Reduce performance.

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