Stress is the opposite of pressure. Stress is a killer. Literally.
According to Webmd, you know stress is getting to you when you:
• Become easily agitated, frustrated, and moody
• Feel overwhelmed, like you’re losing control
• Have difficulty relaxing and quieting your mind
• Have headaches, upset stomach, and low energy
• Constantly worry
• Find yourself pessimistic, seeing only the negative side
Miserable, all of it.
In scientific terms, stress represents the intensity of internal forces, and pressure represents the intensity of external force
Amy Morin, writing in Forbes magazine about the work of renowned psychologist Hendrie Weisinger, Ph. D., says that Weisinger draws a clear distinction between stress and pressure.
• Stress refers to the situation of too many demands and not enough resources – time, money, energy – to meet them.
• Pressure is a situation in which you perceive that something at stake is dependent on the outcome of your performance.
(Amy, by the way, is the author of a terrific book titled, “13 Things Mentally strong People Don’t Do”. I highly recommend it.)
Pressure, where you feel that you need to do well in order for a particular outcome to take place, can be a very good thing. It can make you a better person and a better professional.