There are three types of stress.
(1) Frustration : There are several hindrances to achieve goal but when an individual is not able to achieve his goals due to hindrances, what he feels is known as frustration.
Different activities of human beings are motivated by his needs. Our needs are biological, social and psychological. A human being puts efforts to achieve his goals and to fulfill his needs. For example : A hungry and thirsty individual puts efforts to get food and water. But when, there are obstacles to satisfy his needs, he experiences frustration. The reasons for frustration may be individualistic or environmental.
For example : An individual wants to become an actor or actress or a singer but his look and voice are obstacles to satisfy his needs. Then the frustration is due to individual factors. Moreover, there are several other social and environmental obstacles which cause frustration. The effects of frustration may be mild or severe. Mild effects of frustration cause obstacles in routine works but the severe effects is a serious threat to a persons mental and physical health and even to his survival.
(2) Conflict : When a person has more than one goal or option and when he is not able to make a choice, such uncertainty leads to mental conflict. When there are many options in front of an individual, it becomes difficult for him to select one suitable option which causes conflict. If such a conflict goes on constantly. The person may lose emotional equilibrium.
There are three types of conflicts.
Approach - approach conflict : When an individual has two options and both are accepted to him, but he has to select only one option, then it causes conflict. For example - On a holiday, an individual has two options, either to go for a picnic with friends or to go for a movie with family. The individual likes both of them but he has to select only one. This is known as approach conflict.
Avoidance - avoidance conflict :
This sort of conflict occurs when an individual has two options and he has to select one of them. But unfortunately both the options are not acceptable to him. The individual gets trapped in a dilemma, a valley in front and a deep well behind. For example an individual has options, either to do a job which not acceptable to him or to remain unemployed but he has to select one. This leads to conflict.
Approach - avoidance conflict :
When an individual has only one alternative, it causes conflict. Because this alternative sometimes looks attractive and acceptable to him but the next moment, it looks repulsive and unacceptable. For example - an individual wants to marry but at the same time, he does not want to shoulder the responsibilities associated with marriage. Similarly, an individual wants luxurious bungalow but he is not ready to take up the responsibility of its maintenance. So, in this type of conflict, the individual wants to accept it at a moment but the next moment, he wants to reject it.
(3) Pressure : When a person is unable to cope real or imagined demands imposed upon him by another person, group or situation, it gives rise to a mental condition called pressure.
Pressure is an inevitable situation in today's highly competitive environment. Pressure emerges from inner and outer sources. The main sources of pressure are amibitions and difficult goals in life.
In the competitive environment, people have to work "hard for longer time to achieve their goals, to optimize gains by making maximum use of opportunities, to adapt newer realities and challenges etc., all these factors lead to rise in pressure.