Positive and Negative Stressors

Leen282 · Post by **Leen282** » 11 Aug 2020, 02:10

I think the positive stress is the adrenaline one feels before a race, an exam, a job interview. This can really help to get a positive outcome, but it can also block people. There's two sides to all of it, and each person can feel it in a different way.

Joseph_ngaruiya · Post by **Joseph_ngaruiya** » 11 Aug 2020, 04:08

Zainabreadsnow wrote:
> Agree with your interpretation of this. An example that came to mind was as
> following:
> positive stress: participating in a competition that makes you want to do
> your best.
> negative stress: taking on a lot of extra work that effects your
> performance.

Well, for the extra work that affects your performance, I think it would lead to anxiety too. Negative stress may not lead to anxiety at all times. In some cases, like the one you've given about performing at your best in a competition, anxiety kicks in even before the event commences.

Joseph_ngaruiya · Post by **Joseph_ngaruiya** » 11 Aug 2020, 04:15

cookiedough wrote:
> I agree there are positive and negative stresses. I like to think stress
> like a bell curve, where both extremes are bad. Too little stress and you
> can be lazy. Too much stress can cause health complications. The right
> amount can motivate you to work towards your goals. Take exercise for
> example. You provide stress on your muscles to make them stronger. Too much
> will hurt them, but you can work towards a great workout regime.

Moderation is key, but at times you can't fix a problem quickly, and it ends up becoming more stressful. I'd agree that the right amount of positive stress can motivate you to work towards your goals. Nevertheless, I'm left to wonder, is there a right amount of negative stress? How do we put it into quantitative comparison?

Joseph_ngaruiya · Post by **Joseph_ngaruiya** » 11 Aug 2020, 04:20

Howlan wrote:
> Banette wrote:
> > I think you're totally right about being pushed to study because you're
> > worried about an assignment being an example of positive stress. Based on
> > the definitions given, I think the distinction between positive and
> > negative stress comes down to whether or not the effects of the stress are
> > proportional to the situation. If being stressed about grades makes you
> > study more often then it's positive stress, but if it makes you lose sleep
> > or stress eat, then it's negative stress. Then to take it to a more extreme
> > example, if you're trying to escape from a dangerous situation stress
> > keeping you awake would be positive, but if that stress paralyzes so you
> > can't escape you then it's negative.
>
> Yeah, I agree. The source of positive and negative stress is blurry, we are only able
> to distinguish positive from negative from the effects they bring to ourselves or our
> surroundings. Classing stress also depends on your mindset and mindset of people
> close to you. It can change negative stress into a positive one or positive stress
> into a negative one.

This way of dealing with stress has been documented in the book. It's a common ground for all types of stress. Thoughts will always bring forth actions that are either positive or negative. Those actions are the carriers of either positive or negative stress.

Iva Stoyanova · Post by **Iva Stoyanova** » 11 Aug 2020, 06:24

I have always thought that stress is only negative too. Of course, there are all kinds of stressors around us and we all perceive them differently. Let alone the fact, that there are people less preoccupied and calmer than others. For some, there are positive stressors and for others, probably like me, most of the stress is negatively perceived.

gatuguta2030 · Post by **gatuguta2030** » 11 Aug 2020, 13:03

Personally, I take positive stress to be healthy.
An example of positive stress is when you get stressed on how to invest your accumulated cash in your bank.
Negative stress is when you worry about being unable to provide basic things for your family.

Katherine Smith · Post by **Katherine Smith** » 11 Aug 2020, 15:39

There are two types of stress called eustress or positive stress and distress or negative stress. I think that for most people, they only think of the negative stress not the positive kind of stress because for people only negative things invoke stress. An example of positive stress would be getting nervous before a performance or athletic event. The butterflies in your stomach feeling is positive stress which makes you feel nervous, but excited at the same time.

Howlan · Post by **Howlan** » 12 Aug 2020, 00:37

djr6090 wrote:
> I think that the author's advice to substitute the word fear is appropriate
> here. Positive fear of something that is immediately harmful to you is a
> good thing. Negative fear of something that MIGHT harm you is not.

Yes, that can actually be a great help in dealing with children as well. Substituting 'anxiety' for 'fear' is highly effective to get people open up. Getting to know the source of stress is an important thing to relieve your stress.

Howlan · Post by **Howlan** » 12 Aug 2020, 01:12

Katie Canedy wrote:
> I would say that positive stressors would be getting married, starting or
> interviewing for a new job, buying a house, and going to college.
>
> Regarding negative stress, I believe that it is things that we cannot
> control are negative stressors. For example, natural disasters, a mass
> company layoff, or a spouse cheating on you.

Yes, true. Things that are unknown to us can be a source of stress for us. But it is not necessarily negative. For example in a mass company layoff, some might see it as a source of negative stress but others might write it off as an experience and gain motivation to find a new job.

Howlan · Post by **Howlan** » 12 Aug 2020, 01:23

Joseph_ngaruiya wrote:
> Zainabreadsnow wrote:
> > Agree with your interpretation of this. An example that came to mind was as
> > following:
> > positive stress: participating in a competition that makes you want to do
> > your best.
> > negative stress: taking on a lot of extra work that effects your
> > performance.
>
> Well, for the extra work that affects your performance, I think it would lead to
> anxiety too. Negative stress may not lead to anxiety at all times. In some cases,
> like the one you've given about performing at your best in a competition, anxiety
> kicks in even before the event commences.

Yes, or like in the case of losing something there is more anxiety then stress. In most cases, though I think stress and anxiety go hand in hand. If you worry(anxiety) too much you are bound to be stressed about it.

Howlan · Post by **Howlan** » 12 Aug 2020, 01:26

Wamakima wrote:
> Yes back in school, while studying a psychology unit, I remember learning
> about the two types of stress. Stress that motivates you to perform tasks,
> and stress that reduces your motivation. The author clearly has background
> information on these and is quite accurate.

Yes, but sometimes losing your motivation can be good. For example, it prevents you from trying too much and saves you from possible health hazards.

Howlan · Post by **Howlan** » 12 Aug 2020, 01:27

Tangerinehippie1 wrote:
> Stress can be positive only if you learn from it.

Yes, that is true. If you have a positive experience from your stressful time, it is positive. However, everything must be done in moderation otherwise accumulated stress can be harmful.

Howlan · Post by **Howlan** » 12 Aug 2020, 01:30

Joseph_ngaruiya wrote:
> cookiedough wrote:
> > I agree there are positive and negative stresses. I like to think stress
> > like a bell curve, where both extremes are bad. Too little stress and you
> > can be lazy. Too much stress can cause health complications. The right
> > amount can motivate you to work towards your goals. Take exercise for
> > example. You provide stress on your muscles to make them stronger. Too much
> > will hurt them, but you can work towards a great workout regime.
>
> Moderation is key, but at times you can't fix a problem quickly, and it ends up
> becoming more stressful. I'd agree that the right amount of positive stress can
> motivate you to work towards your goals. Nevertheless, I'm left to wonder, is there a
> right amount of negative stress? How do we put it into quantitative comparison?

I think as long as the stress is not chronic and short term, you can bring out a positive experience. It depends on the person of course. You need to have a strong positive mentality to be able to find a silver lining in everything.

docfatima · Post by **docfatima** » 12 Aug 2020, 01:49

Most of the examples of positive stress given above are actually positive outcomes of the action taken due to stress. I believe stress cannot be positive.... it's only the perception and the actions taken that are positive

Laura Britos · Post by **Laura Britos** » 12 Aug 2020, 07:24

I think that positive stressors could be situations in which you can get something positive out of. Like for example a job interview, exam, meeting with someone new for the first time, first day of school/work and so on. However, I think this is very subjective. some people might find these situations absolutely triggering and they can qualify in that case as negative stressors. It always depends on the person and what they feel confortable doing.