Stress is a widespread phenomenon and has been discussed extensively for years. However, the perception of stress is individual. Psychologists therefore speak of stress types who deal with potential stressors in completely different ways. To be able to take good care of yourself, it is helpful to know: Which stress type am I?
What happens to the body under stress?
When you perceive a situation as stressful, your organism releases increased amounts of adrenaline. This hormone provides you with plenty of energy and sharpens your senses. You become more efficient because your blood pressure rises, your breathing quickens, your muscles tense up, your heart rate increases, and your digestion slows down. Strictly speaking, you are now in a more or less pronounced state of alarm, which is very similar to humans in prehistoric times when danger loomed. It is crucial to relax deeply after such states. However, if you do not manage to lower your stress level again due to the hustle and bustle of everyday life, noise, and constant overstimulation, this has long-term consequences. These include stomach complaints and sleep disorders, as well as high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases.
Not all stress is created equal
Not every type of excitement is experienced as unpleasant. The Hungarian-Canadian researcher Hans Selye distinguishes between two types of stress. So-called "eustress" triggers positive feelings and motivates. The level of arousal is perceived as pleasant, makes one optimistic, and increases self-esteem. "Eustress" is followed by phases of relaxation after a short time. So-called "distress" is perceived as negative because it is overwhelming, induces anxiety, and is also harder to dissipate, as it creates a long-term state of arousal.
The stress type model
In her book "Welcher Stresstyp bin ich?" (Which Stress Type Am I?), psychologist Carien Karsten draws on a medical model. It comes from the American gynecologists Dr. Stephanie McClellan and Dr. Beth Hamilton and is based on the study of physical processes during stress. Simply put, it is about the interplay of two components of the autonomic nervous system. While the sympathetic nervous system could be compared to the gas pedal of a car, the parasympathetic nervous system serves as the brake. This "brake" helps us to "come down" again after tension. However, these processes do not run the same way for every person. Just as we differ from one another through our genes, our upbringing, and our (formative) experiences, we also differ in our stress behavior.
Four stress types
Carien Karsten names four basic types. It is, of course, possible that you are a mixed type. However, the four types should tend to help you recognize how you personally react to stress. This always involves an interplay of physical factors, environmental stimuli, learned behavior, and personal beliefs.
1. The Turbo Type
Under stress, this type really steps on the gas. They work particularly hard and get a lot done in a short time. In the Turbo Type, the sympathetic nervous system is permanently in a state of increased readiness. In principle, this stress type lives as if danger were constantly looming. This often makes them a high performer, but also a restless one. There is too little relaxation. If this is not countered in time, it leads to negative long-term consequences. Typical of the Turbo Type's reaction to stress is an increase in pace and control. Instead of taking on fewer tasks, stressed Turbo Types take on even more. Food and drink often serve as compensation, whereas falling and staying asleep as well as sitting still for long periods is even harder for Turbo Types under stress than usual. Under stress, this type gets angry quickly and for a long time.
2. The Crash Type
The Crash Type does not produce enough adrenaline under stress. Therefore, they often maintain their performance primarily through their willpower, without receiving physical support. The Crash Type is used to not paying attention to their body, precisely because they work so strongly with their will. They can often do many things at once and achieve amazing things, but then they collapse from one moment to the next—they crash. With this type, the risk of burnout is particularly high because they chronically push their limits. Under stress, the Crash Type either takes on too much or becomes apathetic and withdraws. Either way, this type quickly feels trapped under stress and suffers from feelings of powerlessness.
3. The highly sensitive type
This type easily gets out of balance. They quickly produce a lot of adrenaline but sometimes cannot compensate for the stress hormone because their cortisol is quickly depleted. Carien Karsten suspects that childhood and adolescent trauma play a particularly important role for this stress type and also influence the imbalanced production of adrenaline and cortisol. The highly sensitive type is often very talented, and not infrequently particularly creative. And they react with stress to events that others perceive as significantly less burdensome. Highly sensitive types are also often affected by physical hypersensitivities such as allergies. Under stress, this type tends toward avoidance behavior, self-pity, and increased irritability. Depressive moods, panic attacks, and low self-esteem are particularly common in this stress type.
4. The Boreout Type
For fear of not being able to meet requirements and withstand pressure, the Boreout Type avoids challenges. They fear the effects of stress, with the result that they are constantly stressed in another way. Because a lack of challenge also makes us susceptible to stress. In this stress type, the corresponding hormones and the activation system are well coordinated. However, they run at a low level. Thus, people of the Boreout Type have greater difficulty exerting themselves and taking on challenges. Under pressure, they tend to withdraw, avoidance behavior, and passivity. Often, Boreout Types are chronically tired and doubt themselves and their life circumstances a great deal.
If you would like to learn more about stress and the four stress types, take a look at the book "Welcher Stresstyp bin ich? Stress gezielt bewältigen" by Carien Karsten. It is published by Kreuz-Verlag and costs 7.95 euros.
For all four types, increased mindfulness and stress relief through exercise are helpful. If you are interested in stress relief through exercise, continue reading here.
Perhaps you are also interested in a simple method to structure your daily tasks better and, above all, more stress-free. Information on the Top Five method can be found here.
• Medicinal plants can also support you on the path to more inner balance. More on this here.
