Stress is your body’s form of reacting to any change that requires an adjustment or response. When you sense danger, whether it’s genuine or pictured, the body’s defenses kick into high gear in a rapid, automatic process known as the “fight-or-flight” reaction or the “stress response.”
The mortal body is designed to experience and react to it. It can be positive, keeping us alert, motivated, and ready to avoid danger.
It becomes cynical when a person faces constant challenges without a break or relaxation between stressors. If the body continues without relief, it can lead to distress.
Types of stress
There are several types including;
- Acute
- Episodic acute and
- Chronic stress
Acute
It happens to everyone. It’s the body’s immediate reaction to a new and tedious situation. It’s the kind of stress you might feel when you experience a sock about a particular situation that is life-threatening or a sharp reflex of bad occurrences. On the other end, it can come from something that you enjoy.
These incidents of acute stress don’t do you any harm to the body. They might even be good for you. Stressful situations give the body and brain practice in developing good responses to future stressful situations. Once the danger passes, the body systems should return to normal.
Episodic acute
It happens when you experience frequent episodes of acute stress. It can be due to the feeling or premonition that something bad is going to happen.
Episodic acute stress may happen when some people sight security operatives or something they have PTSD for (e.g a female rape survivor in a dark and lonely place with a guy etc.)
As with severe acute stress, episodic acute stress can affect your physical health and mental well-being.
Chronic
When you have high-stress levels for an extended period, you have chronic stress. Long-term stress like this can hurt your health. It may contribute to:
- anxiety
- cardiovascular disease
- depression
- high blood pressure
- a weakened immune system
Chronic stress can also lead to frequent ailments such as headaches, an upset stomach, and sleep difficulties.
Having insights into the types of stress and how to recognize them may help.
What are the warning signs of stress?
- Cognitive symptoms: Memory problems, failure to concentrate, poor judgment, Seeing only the cynical, always anxious, endless worries.
- Emotional symptoms: Depression, being sad, anxiety and agitation, mood swing, anger, feeling overwhelmed, loneliness
- Physical symptoms: Aches and pains, dizziness, rapid heart rate, loss of sex drive, etc.
- Behavioural symptoms: Eating more or less, sleeplessness or sleeping too much, hesitating, neglecting responsibilities, using alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs to relax, nervous habits (e.g. nail biting, pacing)
What Causes stress
Anything that puts high demands on you can be stressful. This includes positive events or negative situations.
- Major life changes
- Work or school-related
- Relationship difficulties
- Financial issues
- Inability to accept uncertainty
- Rigid thinking
- Unrealistic expectations
Tips dealing with stress or ways to manage stress
If you’re the easily stressed-out type, it’s time to start habits that will keep it in check, like a form of stress management routine. Some of the tips include;
- Being positive.
- Accept that there are situations you cannot control.
- Be assertive instead of aggressive.
- Relaxation, try meditation.
- Regularly exercise
- Healthy meal
- Proper time management
- Stress therapy
Finally, what induces stress depends on your perception of it. Sometimes what you tagged as might not be the case for others.
What is that particular thing you do to ease yourself of that stressful moment? This might help other Pickasblog users. Share with us.
