What term is used for the state of mental and emotional strain often experienced during high-pressure situations?

The term that accurately describes the state of mental and emotional strain often experienced during high-pressure situations is stress. Stress encompasses a range of responses that occur when individuals perceive challenges or demands that exceed their coping abilities. It can manifest in various forms, including psychological and physiological reactions, impacting performance and overall well-being.

While anxiety, tension, and fatigue relate to mental or emotional conditions, they do not fully capture the broader spectrum of effects that stress entails. Anxiety often involves persistent worry or fear, whereas tension refers specifically to the physical tightness or strain in the body. Fatigue indicates a state of extreme tiredness and can arise as a consequence of prolonged stress, but it does not encompass the immediate mental and emotional responses that stress does. Therefore, stress is the most encompassing term that reflects the experience of feeling overwhelmed or pressured.