Acute or chronic stress? Know the differences and how they affect you
“I’m stressed!” could easily be considered one of the most common phrases among women dealing with deadlines, responsibilities and demands that never end.
But did you know that stress has several faces ? One is your lifeline in dangerous situations and gives you drive, while the other leads to physical and emotional collapse.
In this post, you will detect what type of stress you face , how it is activated and what you can expect from it.
Do you have acute or chronic stress? Find out.
Understanding acute stress
Acute or short-term stress is triggered to make you “fight or flee” from real or imagined threats, such as getting stuck in traffic or imagining your partner cheating.
It is also activated by positive situations such as an exciting work challenge.
You can experience this type of stress several times a day.
Symptoms of acute or short-term stress
Because it comes and goes quickly, it does not cause significant damage to your health and emotions .
However, transient symptoms may occur, such as:
- Rapid heartbeat.
- Deeper and faster breathing.
- Feeling of being alert.
- Tremors and even nausea, among others.
But you shouldn't let your guard down. If you experience many acute stress events during the day, you could develop chronic stress.
Chronic stress: an invisible burden that impacts your daily life
Chronic stress never leaves you; it is persistent and exhausting.
And, by maintaining elevated levels of cortisol (stress hormone) for weeks or years, it deteriorates your physical, emotional and hormonal health, such as:
- Excessive worry or anxiety.
- Low mood or energy.
- Lack of appetite, or an increased desire to binge.
- Digestive problems such as heartburn or constipation.
- Trouble sleeping.
- Unfocused or confused thinking.
- Bad mood.
- Low sexual desire.
- Diseases such as cardiovascular, cancer and Hashimoto's thyroiditis.
Even if you take action, it will take time to reverse the damage caused by this vicious cycle.
What causes chronic stress
It comes from difficult and recurring situations in your daily life, such as:
- Difficult relationships with family, coworkers, and other close people.
- Economic difficulties
- Family illnesses and emotionally draining events.
- Traumatic situations, such as accidents, physical or emotional abuse, the death of a loved one, or divorce.
- Noisy, polluted, crowded environments or unhealthy public spaces.
- Overwork, lack of control or support.
- Hormonal changes of premenopause, perimenopause and menopause.
Dear Sir, knowing what type of stress you have and how to identify stress will allow you to address the root causes and apply effective strategies to manage it.
This way you will avoid negative consequences for your mental and physical well-being.
If you feel that stress is getting the better of you, don't hesitate to consult a specialist.
You can also find many strategies to deal with stress in the articles on my blog. They will surely help you regain the calm you so desire.
Important: This content is for educational purposes only and should not be used as medical advice. If you have any health conditions, please consult your doctor.
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