Definitions/Types of Stress

[MrJim911]

Definitions:

Distress- Mental or physical strain resulting from anxiety, work or adjustive demands or challenges.

Eustress- Good stress. The condition of heightened energy and optimal energy level for maximum performance. "Stress is the spice of life"

CIS (Critical Incident Stress)- Occurs when the stress level goes beyond optimum and overtaxes the physical, mental and emotional systems.

PTSD- Produced by prolonged exposure tp severe, usually life threatening trauma, and amplified by unresolved prior trauma.

Or a more generalized definition....

"When you rise up out of bed screaming...and you realize you haven't been to sleep yet."





Types of stress:

Delayed- Buried internally for a period of time.

Cumulative- From a variety of sources over a period of time.

Occupational- From the job, stress of the job itself.

And CIS and PTSD as described above.

[PaulNunis]

"...PTSD- Produced by prolonged exposure to severe, usually life threatening trauma, and amplified by unresolved prior trauma..."

Actually, no exposure to life threatening trauma is required, the ravages of anticipating such trauma is enough, even if the external threat never materializes.

Our bodies will secrete significant levels of brain chemicals in mere anticipation of 'fight or flight', and it is these chronic adrenal releases that wear down the immune system, the serotonin reuptake balance, and so on.
So someone who has spent a lot of time 'on the edge' may suffer from PTSD, even if they were never actually involved in an incident.

Paul