Web Page: Why Eustress Is Your Friend
Web Page: Stress Management
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Managing Stress
Human beings experience stress in two ways. Eustress is beneficial stress and stems from focus, hard work, skilled performance, and achievement. Distress is harmful stress and stems from fear, futility, floundering, and frustration. Eustress improves performance, health, and mood, while distress has a negative effect on these. Consider the chart to the right, which measures performance against stress level.
Stress-Management Techniques
When stress overwhelms, you can take action to reduce it. Here are some helpful strategies:
- Avoid the problem. Some stressful situations aren’t worth confronting. Step away and get room to think. You might be able to avoid the problem altogether. If you get anxious in crowds, find ways to stay away from them. If you hate being cold, make sure to wear warm clothes.
- Care for yourself. Stress is your body’s response to a perceived threat, so many of the best stress-relieving strategies involve caring for your body. Start by taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. It will calm you. Do other relaxing things, like taking a walk or a bath, watching a show, or talking with friends. Eat right and sleep well.
- Face the problem. Figure out what is causing you to feel stressed and take it on. If you are worried about an assignment, make a plan for completing it, and get to work. If you are concerned about a tryout, practice so that you can do your best.
- Get help. You don’t have to face a problem alone. A friend, family member, teacher, coach, or counselor can help you take on the problem. Talk with the person. Discuss strategies for coping. Just sharing the load can reduce the stress you are feeling.
- Outlast the problem. Sometimes, you can neither solve nor evade a problem. But you can outlast it. You’re probably tougher than most stressful situations, which do have a way of eventually dissipating.
Your Turn Think about a situation that causes you stress. Is it eustress or distress? If you are experiencing distress, choose two of the above management techniques and follow them. Whenever you feel stress, turn to this page and review the ways for managing it.