Stress Less to Feel Your Best

an obviously stressed out man carry a large boulder on his shoulders

course syllabus for Your Well-Being online health and wellness education course

Course Outline

Main Ideas

Learning Objective
Understand the types of stress-eustress (positive) and distress (negative)-and recognize their impact on mental and physical health.

Behavioral Objective
Develop awareness of stress types and practice gratitude to enhance emotional wellbeing.

Key Thought
Stress, whether positive or negative, affects us mentally and physically; cultivating gratitude can positively influence our outlook and overall health.

Main Ideas

Learning Objective
Understand the types of stress-eustress (positive) and distress (negative)-and recognize their impact on mental and physical health.

Behavioral Objective
Develop awareness of stress types and practice gratitude to enhance emotional wellbeing.

Key Thought
Stress, whether positive or negative, affects us mentally and physically; cultivating gratitude can positively influence our outlook and overall health.

Terms

Distress

noun

1. Great pain, anxiety, or sorrow; acute physical or mental suffering; affliction; trouble.
2. A state of extreme necessity or misfortune.
3. The state of a ship or airplane requiring immediate assistance, as when on fire in transit.
4. That which causes pain, suffering, trouble, danger, etc.
5. Liability or exposure to pain, suffering, trouble, etc.; danger: a damsel in distress.

Eustress

noun

Stress that is deemed healthful or giving one a feeling of fulfillment.

Terms

Distress

noun

1. Great pain, anxiety, or sorrow; acute physical or mental suffering; affliction; trouble.
2. A state of extreme necessity or misfortune.
3. The state of a ship or airplane requiring immediate assistance, as when on fire in transit.
4. That which causes pain, suffering, trouble, danger, etc.
5. Liability or exposure to pain, suffering, trouble, etc.; danger: a damsel in distress.

Eustress

noun

Stress that is deemed healthful or giving one a feeling of fulfillment.

Read

Introduction

Stress is a mental or physical response to a challenge or change. These responses help us adapt to the stressors. When a stressor is encountered the brain and nervous system react and go into a "fight or flight" response (increased heart rate, alertness, restlessness, release of stress hormones).

Types of Stress

Stress gets a bad rap, and is often used with a negative connotation- however, there is more than one type of stress and one of them can be beneficial.

Eustress

Eustress-or positive stress, is the type of response we feel when we get excited. Eustress can push us to accomplish a task or challenge. Some examples of positive stress are: marriage, starting a new job, traveling to a new country, or a good workout.

Distress

Distress-or negative stress, is the type of stress we normally hear about when people say they are "stressed out". This generally comes with feelings of anxiety, overwhelm, and physical symptoms like headaches, short attention span, and tension in the body.

Experiencing negative stress too often is harmful to mental and physical health. Some examples of distress are; death of a loved one, getting fired, being abused, getting divorced, being diagnosed with a serious illness.

The Power of Gratitude

Cultivating a practice of gratefulness has benefits that extend to many areas in life. Grateful people tend to have stronger relationships, sleep better, have a deeper sense of happiness, and a more positive outlook on life. And studies have shown that those who practice gratitude have better emotional wellbeing.

Even the generally pessimistic person can become someone who looks on the brightside with a little effort and practice.