Stress:

Ø  Stress is the body's reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response.

Ø  In a medical or biological context stress is a physical, mental, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension. Stresses can be external (from the environment, psychological, or social situations) or internal (illness, or from a medical procedure).

Ø  According to American Psychological Association (APA), there are 3 different types stress 

1.     acute stress,

2.     episodic acute stress, and

3.     chronic stress.

1.     Acute stress (immediate perceived stress),

Acute stress is usually brief. It is the most common and frequent presentation. Acute stress is most often caused by reactive thinking. Negative thoughts predominate about situations or events that have recently occurred, or upcoming situations, events, or demands in the near future.

For example, if you have recently been involved in an argument, you may have acute stress related to negative thoughts that are repetitive about the argument. It is usually brief but the most common and frequent presentation. It often caused by reactive thinking. Negative thoughts predominate about situations or events that have recently occurred, or upcoming situations, events, or demands in the near future.

Acute stress can present in anyone’s life. It is highly treatable and manageable. However, repeated acute stress can become very harmful for your physical and mental health. elevated blood pressure, rapid heartbeat, rapid pulse, sweaty palms, heart palpitations, dizziness, migraine headaches, cold hands or feet, shortness of breath, sleep problems, and chest pain.

2.     Episodic acute stress, (When acute stress happens frequently, it's called episodic acute stress. People who always seem to be having a crisis tend to have episodic acute stress. They are often short-tempered, irritable, and anxious. People with this kind of stress will oftentimes take on more responsibilities and projects than they can handle. They may seem like they're constantly in a rush, always running late, and are disorganized. CBT can help) and chronic stress. Eg. Transient stomach, gut and bowel problems, heartburn, acid stomach, flatulence, diarrhea, constipation.

Ø  There are 2 main personality types that frequently present with Episodic Acute Stress: 1) “Type A” personality 2) The “Worrier”

Type A personality have an excessive competitive drive, aggressiveness, impatience, abrupt, and a sense of time urgency. In addition, Type A personality presents as reactive with hostility, and almost always a deep-seated insecurity about performance. These personality traits create frequent episodes of acute stress for the Type A individual. The cardiologists, Friedman and Rosenman found Type A’s to be significantly likely to develop coronary heart disease.

The “Worrier”:  The Worrier presents with almost incessant negative thoughts causing episodic acute stress on physical and mental health. “Worry warts” project probable disaster and negatively forecast catastrophe in almost every situation. They have core beliefs that the world is a dangerous, unrewarding, punitive place where something awful is always about to happen.

               These individuals can be very resistant to change their behaviors and thinking patterns. It is common for these individuals to only seek psychological treatment when physical pains and discomforts become too much.

3.   Chronic Stress

It is the most harmful type of stress. If chronic stress is left untreated over a long period of time, it can significantly and often irreversibly damage your physical health and deteriorate your mental health.

For example, long term poverty, repeated abuse in any form, unemployment, dysfunctional family, poor work environment, substance abuse, or an unhappy marriage can cause significant chronic stress.

Chronic stress can also set in when an individual feels hopeless, does not see an escape from the cause of stress, and gives up on seeking solutions.

Chronic stress can be caused by a aversive experiences in childhood or traumatic experiences later in life.

When an individual lives with chronic stress, his/her behavioral actions and emotional reactions become ingrained. There is change in the hardwiring of the neurobiology of the brain and body. There by making them constantly prone to the hazardous stress effects on the body + mind+ cognitive regardless of the scenarios.

People with chronic stress have the list of signs and symptoms previously mentioned, but the signs and symptoms are chronic and can result in a physical and mental breakdown that can lead to suicide, violent actions, homicide, psychosis, heart attacks, and strokes.

Treatment for chronic stress  

When a person never sees a way out of a miserable situation, feels anxiety of unrelenting demands and pressures for seemingly interminable periods of time. With no hope, the individual gives up searching for solutions.

Some chronic stressors or triggers stem from traumatic early childhood experiences that become internalized and remain forever painful and present. Early childhood experiences profoundly affect personality; often resulting in core belief systems that are created by causes of unending stress for the individual (e.g., the world is a threatening place, you must be perfect at all times). When personality or deep-seated convictions and beliefs must be reformulated, recovery requires active self-examination with professional psychological help. Good news is psychological treatment is very effective.

The worst variable of chronic stress is that some people habituate to it. They almost forget it is there. In some ways, one could say it is an adaptation in the form of a ultimate psychological defense mechanism. People are immediately aware of acute stress because it is new. However, individuals with chronic stress frequently ignore all of the signs and symptoms because it is old, familiar, and also because often they feel helpless and hopeless.

Chronic stress kills through suicide, violence, homicide, heart attack, stroke and, perhaps, even cancer. People wear down to a final, fatal breakdown. Their physical and mental resources are depleted through long-term attrition. The signs and symptoms of chronic stress are difficult to treat, but not impossible to treat. People with chronic stress require extended medical and psychological treatment that includes behavioral and stress management.