Types of Stress

Stress can arise from the body, the environment, the mind, or from social relationships. Psychologists usually classify stress into three main types: physical and environmental, psychological, and social. These types are not completely separate; they often overlap and influence each other.

Meaning

Physical stress: Demands that disturb or strain the body. Environmental stress: Aspects of our surroundings that are often unavoidable and create stress.

Examples of physical stress

• Overexertion (working or exercising beyond one’s physical capacity).
• Lack of adequate sleep and rest.
• Poor or unbalanced diet.
• Physical injury or illness.

Examples of environmental stress

Everyday environmental conditions:

• Air pollution.
• Noise and crowding.
• Extreme heat of summer or severe winter cold.

Catastrophic events (natural disasters):

• Fire, earthquake, floods, cyclones, tsunami, etc.
• These events affect the health and mental life of many people and may take a long time to cope with.

Meaning

Psychological stresses are generated in our own minds. They are personal and unique to the individual experiencing them. They are internal sources of stress.

General psychological stressors

• Worrying about problems.
• Feeling anxiety.
• Feeling depressed or very sad.
• These are both symptoms of stress and also cause further stress.

Important internal sources of psychological stress

Frustration

• Results from blocking of needs and motives by something or someone.
• Examples:
• Social discrimination.
• Interpersonal hurt.
• Low grades in school or failure to achieve a desired goal.

Conflict

• Occurs between two or more incompatible needs, motives, or values.
• Examples:
• Whether to study dance or psychology.
• Whether to continue studies or take up a job.
• Conflict of values when pressurised to act against one’s own values.

Internal pressures

• Come from our own beliefs and expectations about ourselves.
• Example: “I must do everything perfectly.”
• Unrealistically high standards often lead to disappointment and stress.

Social pressures (as internal psychological stress)

• Felt when others make excessive demands or when one is pressurised to meet social expectations.
• Working with such people can create even greater pressure.
• Personality clashes can also be a source of stress.

Meaning

Social stress is produced by social events and situations involving other people. It is induced externally through our interactions and relationships.

Examples of social stress

• Serious family events: Severe illness or death in the family, Divorce or separation, Unwed motherhood, etc.
• Relationship problems: Strained relationships, Quarrels with a best friend, Bad or troubling neighbours, etc.
• Everyday social situations: For some, attending parties or social gatherings is stressful, and for others, staying at home in the evenings may be stressful.

Small quarrels that happen daily and cannot be avoided can become a continuous source of social stress.

• Physical and environmental stresses (for example, disasters, noise, crowding) can lead to psychological stress (worry, fear, tension).
• Psychological stress (e.g., frustration, internal pressure) can make social situations more difficult and stressful.
• Social stress (e.g., conflicts or lack of support) can increase both psychological and physical stress.
• Therefore, all three types of stress are interrelated and overlapping, not completely separate.

• Stress is commonly grouped into three types: physical and environmental, psychological, and social.
• Physical and environmental stress comes from bodily strain and surrounding conditions (including natural disasters).
• Psychological stress arises from internal thoughts, feelings, and mental conflicts, such as frustration and internal pressures.
• Social stress arises from social events, relationships, and everyday interactions with others.
• In real life, these types of stress often occur together and influence each other.