Stress Vs Chronic Stress

According to Janeway1, “stress is a physical or psychological stimulus which, when impinging upon an individual , produces strain or disequilibrium”.1 Stress is a biological, physiological and behavioural response to environmental demands. An appropriate amount of stress has protective and adaptive functions however a high amount of stress can cause pathological changes or even death.4 Exposure to stress can lead to painful emotions such as anxiety or depression, as well as physical illness.3 People under an overwhelming amount of stress may experience tachycardia, palpitations and rapid breathing.7

“Stress is a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances”. It is generally known as “pattern of disruptive physiological and psychological reaction to events that threaten the ability to cope” (Oxford Living Dictionaries, 2017).

Our book describes stress as “any circumstances that threaten or are perceived to threaten one’s well-being and tax one’s coping ability” (Weiten, 2014). Stress is not necessarily a traumatic, life destroying event. It can be as simple a small change in one’s daily schedule. People will have multiple stresses throughout their lifetime. Some will be little and daily, but overtime these add up and can affect you in many ways. Stress can be positive or negative and can take many forms; a few being frustration, internal conflict, change, and pressure. All of which make almost a daily appearance in my life (Weiten, 2014).

Stress is a nonspecific response of the human organism to any demand make upon it. It can influence the way we perform on tests and homework and how we act at home or work. There are different types of stress that can occur in the body. Acute stress is the body’s response to imminent danger. This short-term stress usually occurs when we are told we will have a quiz or have to give a speech in class. Chronic stress is a prolonged physical or emotional stress. This can cause damage to the body if the stress lasts for too long. Optimal stress is intense enough to motivate and physically prepare us to perform well but not enough to cause harm to the body.

In the article,” Chronic stress can wreak havoc on the body” written by Nathan Seppa, he discusses the impact stress has on the body. Stress is a feature of our daily life. One stress in particular is chronic stress. Stated in the article, it states,” Chronic stress is the kind that comes from recurring pain, post-traumatic memories, unemployment, family tension, poverty, childhood abuse, caring for a sick spouse or just living in a sketchy neighborhood.” Chronic stress is around us constantly. According to the article, it states,” Nonstop, low-grade stress contributes directly to physical deterioration, adding to the risk of heart attack, stroke, infection and asthma. Even recovery from cancer becomes harder.” People do not realize that stress

Stress can do incredible things to the human body, including helping us be more productive, work harder, or think faster. However, when a person experienced extreme stress in response to uncontrollable circumstances such as fighting in a war, a physical attack, an accident, or a natural disaster, it can be detrimental. A person who will live through a major traumatic event often could not cope with

Stress is a natural way for a person to quickly react to an alarming situation. When the brain perceives a threat, it tells the body to react by releasing hormones, pushing it into overdrive until the threat has gone (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2014). Everyday stress in life, or acute stress, is the most common and has no long-term damaging side effects (Miller & Smith, 1994). Episodic acute stress is found in those who suffer from acute stress frequently (Miller & Smith, 1994). This type of stress is linked to personality types, ceaseless worriers or people who are very controlling are easily pushed into episodic acute stress cycles. The symptoms of episodic acute stress are persistent tension headaches, migraines, hypertension, chest pain and heart disease. Chronic stress comes

Chronic Stress affects the whole body, and especially the brain. In the brain, there is a balance of hormones, and the two stress related hormones are Epinephrine (Adrenaline) and Cortisol. Epinephrine is a hormone that is released quickly and dissipates quickly. However, Cortisol stays, and when you have too much of this stress hormone, it can cause diseases such as Osteoporosis and Heart disease. It also causes weight gain and mood swings. This increase in Cortisol actually causes brain cells to die, due to assisting in creating “free radicals”, which are unattached oxygen molecules, that punctures the brain cell walls, killing brain cells. Even though brain cells are created daily, Cortisol stops and slows the production of proteins (Brain-derived neurotrophic factor) that keep brain cells healthy and

Stress can be defined as “a chronically high level of mental arousal and bodily tension that exceed a person’s capacity to cope, results in distress, disease, or an increased capacity to cope” (Neidhardt, Weinstein, & Conry, 1990, p. 2). On the other hand, depression, which is one of most common

Stress is when the body’s organisms fail to respond well to emotional or physical threats. Extreme traumatic events can sometimes create a syndrome called PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) which can include anxiety, insomnia, nightmares and a lack of interest in social activities. When any stress continues for an extended period of time it can create serious health challenges. According to webmd.com the list of challenges created or worsened by stress includes obesity, asthma, heart disease, diabetes, depression, gastrointestinal problems, Alzheimer’s Disease, rapid aging and early death.[Kalat,2017] Stress is sometimes helpful because it helps us respond to potentially dangerous events. Stress causes the body to activate the nervous system. This

Clinical depression is a mood disorder in which feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration interfere with everyday life for a longer period of time. According to the CDC, women have higher depression rates than men, and an estimated of one out of ten Americans reported depression (CITE). Stress is defined as a medical condition that puts tension on the mind. There are at least three different types of stress: routine stress related to the pressures of work, family, and other daily responsibilities -stress brought about by a sudden negative change, such as losing a job, divorce, or illness. Traumatic stress is what happens when people are in danger of being seriously hurt or killed. Examples of traumatic stress include a major accident, war, assault, or a natural disaster. For CSA, traumatic stress is common; this type of stress can lead to further mental implications, such as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Final Thoughts: Chronic stress is a very serious health condition which shouldn’t be neglected. Stress is also a major sign and symptom of various diseases such as Lyme disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, adrenal fatigue, Hypoglycemia etc. Visit your doctor, if you think you’re suffering from chronic

The symptoms of chronic stress can be very dangerous and could be even deadly. Some examples of the symptoms can be heart attack, strokes, cancer, and even suicide (Miller and Smith, n.d.).

Psychological stress is a result of many factors and should be dealt with very carefully. Stress can be defined as “An excess of demand made upon the adaptive capabilities of the mind and body”.(Joseph 1). Another way of putting it, is that there are some things that put certain demands on us. The effects of stress should not be limited to unpleasant emotional states. Many studies have concluded that the effects on our physical health from stress can be extremely detrimental. These adverse physical effects include heart disease and formations of cancer. There are also some societal issues that psychological stress can hamper.

Stress is also linked low fertility in one’s reproductive organs, and can cause problems during pregnancy or one’s menstrual cycle (www.everydayhealth.com). This happens when one is overwhelmed with the stress he or she is going through in their lives. No one person is the same, meaning stressors as well as stress levels differ for each individual. This is why it is hard for scientists to reach the core because it is a subjective sensation related with a variety of symptoms that differ for each of us. Because of this, stress is not always a synonym for distress. Situations like a steep roller coaster ride that cause fear and anxiety for some can prove highly pleasurable for others (www.stress.org). Each person also responds to stress differently. There are numerous physical as well as emotional responses to stress. Stress can cause an ocean of different emotions that are often times unpredictable. It can have wide ranging effects on people’s emotions, mood and behavior (www.stress.org). Stress has said to have been America’s number one leading health problem. It has been shown that stress levels have escalated in children, teenagers, college students and the elderly for reasons that of which have lead to: increased crime, violence, and other threats to personal safety; pernicious peer pressures that lead to substance abuse and other unhealthy life style habits; social isolation and loneliness; the erosion of family and religious