View all slides | Contents of this slide

Lecture Notes

In the second half of this lecture we're going to talk about stress, and stress is something that's present in everyone's daily life, and each person requires a different amount of stress for their optimal functioning or health. Stress often has a negative connotation in our society. We talk about how stressed out we are at work or at school or at home; we imagine stressful life events, such as a big exam or losing a job; but the reality is that stress is not always bad, and so when stressors in our environment lead to positive outcomes, we call them eustress, or good or helpful types of stress. And then distress is when life stressors lead to negative outcomes such as, at the extreme ends, anxiety disorders or depression.