A stressor is any element of life that causes a physiological reaction in us. Eustress is the good stress we experience all the time – heartbeat, breathing, muscle movement, etc. Distress causes a physiological change that is not good for us – shallowing breathing, tense muscles, cluttered mind, etc. One of the major keys to being a successful athlete is to learn how to handle our stressors effectively, and prevent distress from hindering our performance. Any great athlete will tell you, “Yes, I was nervous”, but they were able to perform through the nervousness.
