eustress

[ yoo-stres ]

noun

1. physical, mental, or emotional tension that is caused by something positive or is psychologically or physically beneficial:

   When stress enhances function, such as when you’re lifting weights or accomplishing a challenging task, it could be considered eustress.

Word History and Origins

Origin of eustress¹

First recorded in 1965–70; eu- ( def ) + stress ( def )

Example Sentences

But another key reason why we all need to know about eustress, says Richard Stephens, a senior lecturer in psychology at Keele University, is that it is possible to convert distress into eustress by reframing stressful situations as positive challenges – and reaping the benefits.

From The Guardian

This type is known as “eustress” and without it, they say, our lives would be dull and meaningless.

From The Guardian

Kaufer has found physiological evidence of the power of eustress.

From The Guardian

Her team compared activity in the hippocampuses – “an area that is involved in learning and memory” – of rats exposed to prolonged stress versus a moderate stressor comparable to eustress in humans.

From The Guardian

When pushing yourself through a eustress situation, she says, “you have to focus in a way that you’ve not before”.

From The Guardian