There are three kinds of stress that psychologists have identified: eustress, acute stress and chronic stress. Eustress is identified as happy stress, the good feeling that comes with the anticipation of something unknown that doesn’t carry the emotion of fear. Eustress can cause the heart to race and hormones to release, but the events that trigger eustress include riding a roller coaster or the birth of a new grandchild. For many, eustress is the feeling of joy or gratitude that gives meaning to the phrase, “living life to the fullest.”
Acute stress is caused by unanticipated challenges or triggers that require a response. New social, academic or professional situations are examples of situations where acute stress occurs most routinely. Another feature of acute stress is that it can be ameliorated through our responses and is typically temporary. Acute stress can also be caused by long standing challenges, or unexpected accidents like a fender bender or flight cancellations. The good news is that it might be possible to turn acute stress into good stress (or eustress) with a new perspective or a change in circumstances or luck.
When there is a stressor that seems to be unresolvable, acute stress can become chronic stress. Chronic stress could be caused by a variety of situations from the toll of caretaking for a loved one, to serious psychosis or paranoia. Although individuals can seek the help of a therapist for any kind of stress, chronic stress is most harmful to the body and those suffering from chronic stress are unable to alleviate the stress on their own either through exercise, friend therapy or choice. For those who feel helpless at reducing their level of stress, a therapist can help moderate the effects of stressors and help identify strategies to lessen their impact on mental health.
Whether you’re dealing with eustress, acute stress or chronic stress, it’s important to understand how those feelings affect your physical well-being. You may also learn some at-home stress-busting techniques and find out how a therapist can help.