Stress is a
psychological and physiological response to events that upset our personal
balance in some way. These events or demands are known as stressors. We usually
think of stressors as being negative, such as an exhausting work schedule or a
rocky relationship. However, anything that forces us to adjust can be a
stressor. This includes positive events such as getting married or receiving a
promotion. Regardless of whether an event is good or bad, if the changes it
brings strain our coping skills and adaptive resources, the end result is the
subjective feeling of stress and the body's biological stress response.
Stress Categories
Acute stress is a short-term stress, which occurs as a reaction
to an immediate threat that we know as the Fight or Flight Response. Acute
stressors include but are not limited to noise, traffic, crowding, hunger,
infection, isolation, danger and/or anticipating/remembering a dangerous event.
Symptoms of acute stress include tension headaches, feelings of agitation and
pressure, gastrointestinal disturbances, etc. Once the stressful event has
passed, Flight or Fight Response is replaced with Relaxation Response. It may
take between 6 and 8 weeks to recover from acute stress.
Episodic acute stress is more serious than
acute stress. Symptoms might include migraines, hypertension, stroke, heart
attack, anxiety, depression, serious gastrointestinal distress, etc. It may take
between 4 and 6 months to recover from episodic acute stress. Lifestyle
readjustment and professional help might be required.
Chronic stress is a long-term or ongoing
stress. Chronic stressors include but not limited to long-term financial
problems and worries, relationship problems, highly pressured work, loneliness,
etc. Symptoms might include diabetes, immune system suppression, or even cancer.
It may take 2 to 3 years to recover from chronic stress with the use of
professional help.
Traumatic stress is the result of massive acute
stress. PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) is long lasting for may people
while it is life lasting for some. People with this condition require
professional help to reduce and/or eliminate its
symptoms.
Types of
stress
Physical stress: pain, hot/cold
temperature, weather, trauma, exercise, environmental pollution (e.g., noise
pollution, water pollution, air pollution, poor ventilation, etc.), childbirth,
intense physical labor, illness, aging, fatigue, inadequate supply of oxygen,
dehydration, hypoglycemia, poor joint alignment, hormonal and biochemical
imbalances, dietary stress, substance abuse, dental problems, sleep
disturbances, PMS/menopause in women,
etc.
Psychological stress: emotional stress, mental
stress, and perceptual stress.
Psychosocial stress:
relationship difficulties, lack of social support, isolation, unemployment,
poverty, violence, discrimination due to ethnicity, gender and/or age, racism,
Internet addiction, etc.
Psychospiritual stress:
crisis of values, meaning, and purpose, joyless striving versus meaningful work,
misalignment with core beliefs, etc.
