What Stress is Bad?
Bad stress, also known as distress, is the type of stress that negatively impacts your health and well-being. Unlike short-term, motivating stress (eustress), distress is prolonged and debilitating. It leaves you feeling exhausted, anxious, and jittery, hindering your performance and potentially causing serious health problems.
Several key characteristics distinguish bad stress from good stress:
- Duration: Bad stress is prolonged and persistent, lasting for extended periods. Good stress is typically short-lived.
- Impact: Bad stress wears you down, leading to exhaustion and negatively impacting your physical and mental health. Good stress provides a boost of energy and motivation.
- Symptoms: Distress manifests as anxiety, confusion, poor concentration, decreased performance, and physical symptoms like muscle tension and headaches. These are absent or less pronounced with good stress. The Mayo Clinic outlines common stress symptoms affecting your body, thoughts, feelings, and behavior. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress-symptoms/art-20050987
- Health Effects: Chronic stress, a form of bad stress, is linked to various health risks, including heart disease, anxiety, depression, digestive problems, and sleep disturbances. (Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037) The American Psychological Association also highlights the widespread effects of stress on the body's systems. (https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/body)
Examples of Bad Stress
- Chronic work pressure: Continuously facing high demands and deadlines without adequate recovery time.
- Financial worries: Ongoing concerns about money and debt.
- Relationship problems: Persistent conflict and tension in personal relationships.
- Trauma: Experiencing a significant emotional or physical shock.
- Long-term illness: Dealing with a chronic health condition.
Note: The provided reference states that "Bad stress, or distress, can lead to anxiety, confusion, poor concentration and decreased performance."
