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Positive and Negative Stress

2 août 2023

Stress is often perceived as something negative, but did you know that positive stress also exists ? Understanding the difference between these two forms of stress, and knowing how to manage stress positively, can help us avoid falling into a state of negative stress that is detrimental to our health and well-being. 

According to American psychologists Robert Yerkes and John Dilligham Dodson, there is a relationship between stress levels and performance. At a certain level, stress can be beneficial, boosting motivation and concentration. This is known as positive stress, or eustress. It's usually felt when we're facing challenges, carrying out creative projects or preparing for important events. 

However, when stress levels become excessive and chronic, they can become harmful and turn into negative stress, also known as distress, with harmful consequences on our physical and mental health. This can happen when we are overloaded with work, or when facing interpersonal conflicts, financial problems or any other event that generates excessive tension and feelings of helplessness.


Understanding our Stress Triggers is Essential


Distinguishing between positive and negative stress is essential to maintaining our balance and preserving our health. As stressors and the way stress manifests itself are different for everyone, it's particularly important to listen to ourselves to become aware of our own stress triggers and find techniques to help us manage them. 


By developing a deeper understanding of what positive and negative stress are for us, we can better equip ourselves to avoid the pitfalls of chronic stress and promote our overall well-being.


Sophrology is an effective tool not only for developing self-awareness and a better understanding of the things that disturb us, but also for effectively reducing our stress through a range of simple techniques that can be used quickly anywhere.


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