Stress is almost always cast in a negative light. But in the world of psychology, stress can also be positive.

That “good” type is eustress, the productive spark that sharpens our focus. The “bad” type is distress, the stress that leaves us drained.

While they feel worlds apart, they have the same immediate impact on our biology.

“From an autonomic nervous system perspective, the initial physiological response is similar,” Hong Kong-based clinical psychologist Dr Julia Andre says.

Whether you are fuelled by the adrenaline of a new challenge or paralysed by dread, the internal machinery is the same: the body floods with cortisol, the heart rate climbs and the sympathetic nervous system kicks into high gear.

The important difference lies in what happens next.