Positive and Negative Stressors

[rahilshajahan]

evraealtana wrote:
> I think negative stress also has to do with chronicity. If you have a very
> calm life but experience one stressful day, you're going to be working
> faster, thinking more clearly, being more productive, and generally doing
> more in the same amount of time - this stress is positive. But if you have
> a stressful week, by the end you will have lost those positive effects and
> will just be fatigued, irritable, fuzzy-headed - now the stress is
> negative.
>
> A more primal example: being chased by a tiger gets your heart pounding and
> your breath coming fast so you can escape (positive). Sitting up night
> after night staring into the darkness, expecting the tiger to come back,
> will also have your heart pounding, even though there's nothing to escape
> from (negative).
>
> I'm trying to come up with negative stress examples that don't develop over
> time, but I'm struggling to think of one...

Don't you think negative stressors are created by the victim itself rather than the stimulus?

[Guda Lydia]

Yes, life is full of positive stressors. This is what drives us to to better or improve ourselves. Example, stress about going broke will drive you to work hard and constantly seek opportunities.

[AntonelaMaria]

What an interesting topic. I have to admit I never gave a positive meaning to stress, always I viewed it as negative. But the way author explained it I guess I understand it better. It can be positive. But when the amount of stress is high all the time or when it is constant each day, it drains you and doesn't bring anything good.

[Joseph_ngaruiya]

I thought about your question today and got deeper into thought. In this book, Gustavo gives us recommendations for eliminating the stress and anxiety we may experience. But have you thought about those that don't think it's a problem? Nevertheless, when we define positive stress as stress that may impact our lives positively, how about the negative implications that might come with that type of stress? An example is a single mother who gets a chronic backache after working tirelessly for her daughter to get a good education. It is a positive thing that harms her. How do we distinguish between when to keep pushing on positive stress and when to let it go?

[David_Kariuki]

rahilshajahan wrote:
> The book talks about stressors (reasons for one to stress) being of two
> types- positive and negative. I always believed stress was not good
> emotionally and physically, basically negative.
> But now that I think about it, an assignment which you can solve with some
> hours of studying should be positive stress. Am I thinking right? Do you
> have any better examples?
I have a very good example that actually happened to me. I wasn't very strong in math when in primary school and so when i got to high school, I didn't want people to notice this weakness. As a result, i really put in the work before my first exam. When the results came in, and the teacher was handing out the papers back, i was not given mine only for the teacher to mention that the person with highest score forgot to write his name, ME! . The positive stress led me to study well enough and eventually get an achievement like never before.

[David_Kariuki]

rahilshajahan wrote:
> The book talks about stressors (reasons for one to stress) being of two
> types- positive and negative. I always believed stress was not good
> emotionally and physically, basically negative.
> But now that I think about it, an assignment which you can solve with some
> hours of studying should be positive stress. Am I thinking right? Do you
> have any better examples?
I want to bring in a different perspective to this. Picture a kid who is not performing very well, and its affecting his/her general mood and behavior. The kid can either continue to feel pity for themselves or decide to take great action to improve his/her grades. At what point does it fall to either positive or negative stressors and does the kid have an influence on the thought process to making that decision?

[Howlan]

Guda LM wrote:
> Yes, life is full of positive stressors. This is what drives us to to
> better or improve ourselves. Example, stress about going broke will drive
> you to work hard and constantly seek opportunities.

Yes, true but if you extend it over a long term then it's detrimental to your health. The long term stress is negative stress.

[rahilshajahan]

Joseph_ngaruiya wrote:
> I thought about your question today and got deeper into thought. In this
> book, Gustavo gives us recommendations for eliminating the stress and
> anxiety we may experience. But have you thought about those that don't
> think it's a problem? Nevertheless, when we define positive stress as
> stress that may impact our lives positively, how about the negative
> implications that might come with that type of stress? An example is a
> single mother who gets a chronic backache after working tirelessly for her
> daughter to get a good education. It is a positive thing that harms her.
> How do we distinguish between when to keep pushing on positive stress and
> when to let it go?

That's a great observation, Joseph! The problem in your question is how you define 'positive'. The daughter getting a good education is positive for herself and the whole family in the long run, but the mother who is tiresomely working to provide is dealing with negative stress in the short run. Stress is a component that works in the short run; it has effect on one's body and mind immediately. From the example you gave, chronic backpain. Awesome question by the way!

[tjportugal]

Stephanie Elizabeth wrote:
> I agree with you, and I have also, always, thought that stress was a
> negative thing--probably because it is portrayed that way in our society. I
> think a great example of stress being a positive thing is if a person knows
> they are in danger, the stress causes a flight or fight response, which
> can, as a result save your life. But if a person is always in a state of
> panic, the flight or fight response is always active, even if there is no
> threat, and that's when anxiety and stress can be detrimental.

I agree with you. I think some types of stress can be positive in as much as thay help us to be aware. However, it can turn negative when they disconnect from reality. For example:
Stress during combat can help a soldier be more focus. When the soldier returns home and carries on the stress levels, that is no longer beneficial (i.e. PTSD).

[Brenda Creech]

I agree with you. We all have stressors in life, and positive stress is actually good for us. It is the long-term stress that is detrimental to our health. Everyday stress mostly comes and goes quickly, like your example of studying for a test. Once the test is over and you have your grade the stress gives way to relief. The stress that comes from negative situations and lingers for a long period of time can literally cause us to develop physical health problems!

[shannonkate8]

rahilshajahan wrote:
> The book talks about stressors (reasons for one to stress) being of two
> types- positive and negative. I always believed stress was not good
> emotionally and physically, basically negative.
> But now that I think about it, an assignment which you can solve with some
> hours of studying should be positive stress. Am I thinking right? Do you
> have any better examples?

When I went to school (for psychology), positive and negative weren't necessarily how we thought of them. It was more of the addition or removal of something. For example, losing a job (something taken away) could be seen as negative. Positive could be getting a new job (adding something).

But positive and negative stress can be explained in the general way we think of it. Getting married is wonderful and exciting, but still stressful. So, positive stress. Losing a job sucks and would be considered negative.

[Howlan]

tjportugal wrote:
> Stephanie Elizabeth wrote:
> > I agree with you, and I have also, always, thought that stress was a
> > negative thing--probably because it is portrayed that way in our society. I
> > think a great example of stress being a positive thing is if a person knows
> > they are in danger, the stress causes a flight or fight response, which
> > can, as a result save your life. But if a person is always in a state of
> > panic, the flight or fight response is always active, even if there is no
> > threat, and that's when anxiety and stress can be detrimental.
>
> I agree with you. I think some types of stress can be positive in as much as thay
> help us to be aware. However, it can turn negative when they disconnect from reality.
> For example:
> Stress during combat can help a soldier be more focus. When the soldier returns home
> and carries on the stress levels, that is no longer beneficial (i.e. PTSD).

Yes, true. Stress as long as it is short-term and helps you achieve your goals it is effective. However, the moment it goes long term it starts to affect you negatively.

[Howlan]

shannonkate8 wrote:
> rahilshajahan wrote:
> > The book talks about stressors (reasons for one to stress) being of two
> > types- positive and negative. I always believed stress was not good
> > emotionally and physically, basically negative.
> > But now that I think about it, an assignment which you can solve with some
> > hours of studying should be positive stress. Am I thinking right? Do you
> > have any better examples?
>
> When I went to school (for psychology), positive and negative weren't necessarily how
> we thought of them. It was more of the addition or removal of something. For example,
> losing a job (something taken away) could be seen as negative. Positive could be
> getting a new job (adding something).
>
> But positive and negative stress can be explained in the general way we think of it.
> Getting married is wonderful and exciting, but still stressful. So, positive stress.
> Losing a job sucks and would be considered negative.

That is an interesting way to look at it. So, how do you think stress sue to phobias fit into this? It is not necessarily addition or removal but phobias are a source of negative stress most of the time.

[rahilshajahan]

Howlan wrote:
> tjportugal wrote:
> > Stephanie Elizabeth wrote:
> > > I agree with you, and I have also, always, thought that stress was a
> > > negative thing--probably because it is portrayed that way in our society. I
> > > think a great example of stress being a positive thing is if a person knows
> > > they are in danger, the stress causes a flight or fight response, which
> > > can, as a result save your life. But if a person is always in a state of
> > > panic, the flight or fight response is always active, even if there is no
> > > threat, and that's when anxiety and stress can be detrimental.
> >
> > I agree with you. I think some types of stress can be positive in as much as
> thay
> > help us to be aware. However, it can turn negative when they disconnect from
> reality.
> > For example:
> > Stress during combat can help a soldier be more focus. When the soldier returns
> home
> > and carries on the stress levels, that is no longer beneficial (i.e. PTSD).
>
> Yes, true. Stress as long as it is short-term and helps you achieve your goals it is
> effective. However, the moment it goes long term it starts to affect you negatively.

I think it comes down to chronicity again. Stress, even if short term, but in high amounts can be detrimental for a person. For example, working all day to provide for the family, but ending up with physical pains.

[xsquare]

Howlan wrote:
> tjportugal wrote:
> > Stephanie Elizabeth wrote:
> > > I agree with you, and I have also, always, thought that stress was a
> > > negative thing--probably because it is portrayed that way in our society. I
> > > think a great example of stress being a positive thing is if a person knows
> > > they are in danger, the stress causes a flight or fight response, which
> > > can, as a result save your life. But if a person is always in a state of
> > > panic, the flight or fight response is always active, even if there is no
> > > threat, and that's when anxiety and stress can be detrimental.
> >
> > I agree with you. I think some types of stress can be positive in as much as
> thay
> > help us to be aware. However, it can turn negative when they disconnect from
> reality.
> > For example:
> > Stress during combat can help a soldier be more focus. When the soldier returns
> home
> > and carries on the stress levels, that is no longer beneficial (i.e. PTSD).
>
> Yes, true. Stress as long as it is short-term and helps you achieve your goals it is
> effective. However, the moment it goes long term it starts to affect you negatively.

How about long term but low levels of stress? Some goals can't be achieved in the short term (e.g. an exam with a scheduled date still somewhat far in the future). My personal view is that long term low levels of stress can be a good motivator but when it gets too overwhelming, that's when stress becomes a bad thing.