Types of stress
2-minute read
What is stress?
Stress is healthy response to challenging or dangerous situations.
Stress is a normal part of life and can be positive or negative. Types of stress include:
Good stress
This type of stress is good for you. It comes from facing a positive challenge and can cause us to feel nervous or excited. Good stress can improve motivation and performance.
Short term stress
Short term stress is a brief period of stress related to a specific situation.
Chronic or ongoing stress
Chronic stress can be caused by ongoing pressures or demands that go on for a long period with little hope of improving. Chronic stress can be very damaging to health and relationships.
Not sure what to do next?
If you or someone you know are finding it difficult to manage mental health issues, try healthdirect’s symptom checker and get advice on when to seek professional help.
The Symptom Checker guides you to the next appropriate healthcare steps, whether it’s self care, talking to a health professional, going to a hospital or calling triple zero (000).
Last reviewed: September 2017
