What is eustress and distress?

Eustress and distress represent different types of stress based on their effects on an individual. Eustress is considered positive stress that can motivate and enhance performance. It is typically associated with feelings of excitement and fulfillment, even though it is still a form of stress. Distress, on the other hand, is negative stress that can feel overwhelming and detrimental to health. It is often associated with anxiety, discomfort, and decreased performance.

While the specific terms "eustress" and "distress" were not discussed in the provided clip, Andrew Huberman describes how individuals can have different physiological and psychological reactions when faced with stressful situations. For instance, in a journaling exercise about distressing events, some individuals showed increased distress, while others remained relatively calm. This variability highlights how different individuals experience and handle stress in different ways, which may implicitly link to the concepts of eustress and distress as they relate to either detrimental or beneficial outcomes of stress responses 1.