How Does Stress Differ From Frustration?

— -- Question: How does stress differ from frustration?

Answer: Stress is something that happens to you. Stress is the high-strain job. Stress is the being stopped by a policeman for speeding. Frustration is how you feel when you experience that stress. Not everyone who is experiencing a stressful life event or a stressful life situation feels frustration.

The frustration comes on when your attempts to manage the situation -- your attempts to handle it -- don't work. And in that case, you begin to feel frustrated by definition. So frustration is a reaction to stress -- a particular reaction to stress that you're not able to handle, you're not able to manage. When that happens, you feel frustrated.

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