“Good stress” and “bad stress”: life events and stress levels

Life events of various sizes occur in our lives. Enrollment, employment, marriage, childbirth, job change, retirement, illness, separation—all are turning points in our lives, and they inevitably affect our minds and bodies. And these events are not necessarily only "bad". Even happy events can cause intense stress.

There is a concept that there is actually ``good stress'' and ``bad stress.'' In psychology, the formereustress, the latter is called distress. Eustress promotes adaptation to positive changes, increases motivation, and leads to self-growth. Distress, on the other hand, has a negative impact on the mind and body, and when it becomes excessive, it can cause mental and physical illnesses.

One of the keys to distinguishing these two types of stress is the ``content of the life event'' and ``the magnitude of the change,'' in other words, the stress level.

Stress level of life events

American psychologists Holmes and Ray developed the Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS) in the 1960s. This is a score system that measures the amount of stress that various life events cause to a person, with numerical values ​​assigned to things such as marriage, changing jobs, and moving. For example, ``death of a spouse'' is 100 points, ``divorce'' is 73 points, ``marriage'' is 50 points, and ``change in work responsibilities'' is 29 points.

As can be seen from this scale, it is not necessarily only ``negative'' events that cause high stress. Even seemingly happy events, such as getting married or getting a promotion, are associated with a high level of stress because they involve changes in life and new responsibilities.

In other words, ``good things = stress-free'' does not necessarily mean that even ``happy events'' place stress on our minds. When this burden is perceived as a meaningful challenge to oneself, it can become eustress. On the other hand, if we feel that we cannot cope with our own resources, even good events turn into distress.

Even the same event is perceived differently by each person.

Even for the same life event, the degree of stress felt and the judgment of whether stress is good or bad differs from person to person. For example, for people who positively view a job change as a ``new opportunity'', it can be exciting and rewarding, leading to eustress. On the other hand, it can be a major source of stress for people who experience increased anxiety and self-doubt in their daily lives.

This shows the essence of the stress theory that ``stress is determined not by the event itself, but by how we perceive it.'' Psychologist Lazarus states that stress is determined by an individual's cognitive evaluation of a stimulus, and the level of self-efficacy and resilience has a large impact on that evaluation.

How to deal with stress

Good stress becomes the driving force that moves people forward. Typical examples include the feeling of tension toward a goal and the ability to concentrate when faced with a deadline. However, even good stress turns into distress if it becomes excessive. It is important to listen to your mind and body before chronic fatigue, anxiety, and sleep disorders develop.

During periods of successive life events—for example, when you are faced with a job, marriage, or move—your body and mind may be more exhausted than you realize. In times like these, you need the courage to not be afraid to take a break or to rely on others.

It is also effective to prepare in advance for predictable events. Actions such as deepening your business knowledge before getting a promotion or sharing your values ​​with your partner before marriage have the power to turn the burden of stress into preparation.

At the end

We are unavoidably faced with stress in every aspect of our lives. However, stress is not necessarily a bad thing. The right amount of pressure can help you grow and give your life a sense of purpose. The important thing is to know the ``just right amount of stress'' for you and develop the ability to control it.

Life events are turning points in life, and at the same time, they are also an opportunity to reconsider oneself. In the midst of this, I take a step back and ask myself, ``Is this eustress or distress?'' I believe that such a small change in consciousness will lead to a better way of dealing with stress.