Overview of Stress: How can Stress Affect Our Lives?

Stress has continuously been a pivotal factor in one’s life. People are often guided by their natural instincts to create decisions which are effectively caused by the stress they experience. In life-threatening situations, many trigger adrenaline, a reaction caused in the adrenal glands to release hormones, to access the fight-or-flight response which narrows our thinking to one specific objective which is survival at all costs. In other cases, stress can be a motivating agent to pressure us into completing deadlines and so forth.

As much as stress may encourage our survival or even mastering deadlines, it can be a destructive element of our daily lives that may cause more harm than good if not properly managed. 

What is stress? 

Stress is essentially a mental or physical response to our external environments typically caused by changes or difficulties. This response is the body releasing hormones to keep the brain alert, tense muscles, and increase one's heart pulse. At times, stress can be the encouragement needed to avoid dangers but at others, it may be the very thing that may be detrimental to one’s health by sabotaging the body’s function such as damaging the immune system, causing constant headaches, along with various other symptoms. Stressors, also known as factors that cause stress, may occur repeatedly over an extended period of time or may be temporary as short one-time incidents. Those prolonged periods of stress may be dangerous as it especially puts people at risk for developing mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. 

However, stress is not an objective response but is curated specifically for individuals depending on how they perceive certain situations varying from person to person. Stress is a natural human reaction and is not necessarily a problem unless it begins to abnormally interfere in one’s daily life. 

Types of Stress

• Acute stress: Short-term stress that can be either positive or negative and usually occurs during temporary circumstances such as riding a rollercoaster, biking in a cramped area, or a fight with a significant other and occurs to everyone of all ages; may lead to acute stress disorder (ASD) in severe cases which is comparable to post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)  

• Episodic acute stress: Experiencing acute stress regularly and prevents people from a relaxed and calm state thus is found in stressful professions such as healthcare workers and students

• Chronic stress: Long-term stress that lasts for weeks or even months may eventually lead to health complications and should be managed as soon as possible– this may be caused by one’s environment or long-term situation such as financial difficulties or marital issues 

Common Causes of Stress

Aforementioned, stress is not always a bad response. It is both negative and positive depending on the person and their perception of certain situations which will in turn develop their own responses to each unique experience. However, common causes of stress may include:

• Losing/getting a new job 

• Financial burdens 

• Marriage – specifically divorce 

• Moving to new environments 

• Growing a family

• Retirement 

• Studying for an exam

• Arguments

• Completing a mountain of work in a short period of time

• Small problems such as messing up meals, failing a test, and running late 

Symptoms of Stress

Therewithin stress demonstrates 3 categorical types of symptoms:

• Physical: 

• Aches/Pains: chest pain, heaviness in the chest, headaches, migraines 

• Sleep deprivation 

• High Blood Pressure - hypertension; which is where the blood vessels are too high about 140/90 mmHg or higher  

• Abnormal weight gain and loss 

• Skin problems such as eczema or acne - typically due to a weakened immune system caused by stress

• Menstrual issues - irregular cycle 

• Weakened immune system 

• Digestive issues 

• Memory problems

• Stress rashes - pink/discolored bumps known as hives may appear; more commonly found in women than men  

• Psychological: 

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Panic attacks

• Behavioral:

• Addictions: alcohol, gambling, drugs 

• Developing eating disorders - causing the abnormal weight loss and gain 

• Abnormal partake in shopping, sex, and social media/internet usage  

Treatment/Prevention of Stress

It is impossible to remove an instinct ingrained into our lives hence stress cannot be permanently removed but can be managed and even prevented in some cases. 

• Physical movements and taking care of one’s health can help the body calm down as you focus on a simple task that will draw your attention away from the stressor such as taking a walk, stretching, a light work-out, getting 8 hours of sleep everyday, and eating nutritious foods may improve overall mood and stress

• Being able to appreciate what you have accomplished thus far is a great motivator for continuing on and easing the nerves of not doing enough and leaves room for thorough reflection and peace during hectic times

• Setting short-term goals is an effective way to narrow down larger objectives to be more achievable and less like an impossible feat 

• Voicing your concerns, worries, and anxiety to therapist, friends, healthcare workers, or even meditation may release tension within 

• Ensure to only accept the work that you know you are capable of accomplishing and not overwhelming yourself with excessive tasks – which may mean you will have to decline additional responsibilities 

Written by: Sunny Han

Sources

Cleveland Clinic. (2024, May 15). What Is Stress? Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11874-stress

Hansen , L., & Mathews, C. (n.d.). Stress and your health - UF Health. Ufhealth.org. https://ufhealth.org/conditions-and-treatments/stress-and-your-health

Mayo Clinic Staff. (2023, August 1). Chronic stress puts your health at risk. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037#:~:text=Understanding%20the%20natural%20stress%20response&text=Through%20nerve%20and%20hormonal%20signals

National Institute of Mental Health. (2022). I’m so stressed out! Fact sheet. Www.nimh.nih.gov. https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/so-stressed-out-fact-sheet

World Health Organization. (2023, March 16). Hypertension. World Health Organization; WHO. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hypertension#:~:text=Hypertension%20(high%20blood%20pressure)%20is