Distress
Distress is the destructive form of stress, in which the demands exceed an athlete's resources and lead to falling capacity, exhaustion and worse results.
Definition
The term was introduced by the physiologist Hans Selye, who split stress into the useful kind (eustress) and the harmful kind, distress. Distress arises when what a situation demands chronically or acutely exceeds a person's capacity to cope. Unlike mobilizing tension, it does not help — it disorganizes mind and body.
How it shows up in sport
In an athlete, distress shows up as chronic fatigue, irritability, disturbed sleep and falling motivation, which leads directly to inconsistent results. Prolonged distress is a direct route to athlete burnout. At competitions it appears as freezing, fidgeting or apathy in place of composure.
Related tests
Questionnaires on anxiety, burnout and subjective well-being in the tests section help you gauge your stress level and how much damage it is doing. Testing yourself regularly lets you catch the shift from healthy load to distress before exhaustion piles up. It is worth discussing the results with a specialist.
Exercises
Recovery and relaxation techniques bring distress down: breathing practices, progressive muscle relaxation and autogenic training. You will find a selection of specific practices in the exercises section. It is just as important to review your training and sleep schedule together with your coach.
Related terms and issues
The opposite of distress is eustress, the useful, mobilizing kind of tension. Distress is closely tied to athlete burnout and inconsistent results. If the stress has become chronic, it is worth seeing a specialist.
FAQ
How is distress different from ordinary stress?
Stress is any response to a demand. Distress is the harmful kind, where the demand exceeds your resources and, instead of mobilizing you, brings exhaustion and a drop in results.
How do I know whether this is distress and not just tiredness?
Ordinary tiredness lifts after rest. With distress, recovery never comes: the irritability, insomnia, apathy and reluctance to train stay — which is a reason to get assessed and work with a specialist.
Related topics
See also
When you need a personal review
If the challenge recurs, affects results, or causes strong tension for the athlete, it is better to discuss it with a specialist. Sports Talk helps you find a psychologist and a format that fits the sport, age and upcoming calendar.