Types of Stress

Concept First

Stress is not a single, uniform experience. It comes in different forms depending on where the demand originates — from your body, your mind, or your social world. The textbook identifies three major types: physical and environmental, psychological, and social. These types are not isolated; they are deeply interrelated. A physical stressor like chronic illness can create psychological stress (worry), which in turn can strain social relationships.

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Physical and Environmental Stress

Physical stresses are demands that directly change the state of your body. You feel strained when you:

• Overexert yourself physically
• Lack a nutritious diet
• Suffer an injury
• Fail to get enough sleep

Environmental stresses are aspects of your surroundings that are often unavoidable. These include:

• Air pollution
• Crowding
• Noise
• Heat of summer, cold of winter

A separate, more severe category of environmental stress is catastrophic events or disasters, such as fire, earthquake, and floods.

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Psychological Stress

These are stresses that we generate ourselves in our minds. They are personal, unique to the person experiencing them, and are internal sources of stress. We worry about problems, feel anxiety, or become depressed. Importantly, these are not only symptoms of stress — they cause further stress for us.

The textbook lists four important sources of psychological stress:

Frustration results from the blocking of needs and motives by something or someone that hinders you from achieving a desired goal. Causes include social discrimination, interpersonal hurt, and low grades in school.

Conflicts occur between two or more incompatible needs or motives. Examples:

• Whether to study dance or psychology
• Whether to continue studies or take up a job
• A conflict of values, when you are pressured to take an action that goes against the values you hold

Internal pressures stem from beliefs based on expectations we hold for ourselves. For example, the belief "I must do everything perfectly" can only lead to disappointment. Many people drive themselves ruthlessly toward unrealistically high standards. …