Stress definition

It’s no secret that the long-term effects of distress can Stress has the ability to negatively impact our lives. It can cause physical conditions, such as headaches, digestive issues, and sleep disturbances. It can also cause psychological and emotional strains, including confusion, anxiety, and depression. According to the It can also contribute to the development of There’s a distinction between a stressor and actual stress. A There are any number of situations that can cause stress. Dr. Gary Brown, a licensed psychotherapist, says some of the more common stressors include: • relationship conflicts at home • new or increasing work responsibilities • increasing demands • financial strain • loss of a loved one • health problems • moving to a new location • exposure to one or more traumatic incidents, such as a car accident or a violent crime Knowing how to spot the signs of stress is the first step in developing ways to manage its adverse effects. Some of the more common physical, psychological, and emotional signs of chronic stress include: • rapid heart rate • elevated blood pressure • feeling overwhelmed • fatigue • difficulty sleeping • poor problem-solving • fear that the stressor won’t go away • persistent thoughts about one or more stressors • changes in behavior, including social withdrawal, feelings of sadness, frustration, loss of emotional control, inability to rest, and self-medication When it comes to managing stress, making simple changes can go a long way in...

Stress is a natural reaction to not being able to cope with specific demands and events, but ongoing stress can affect a person’s health and wellbeing. Tips for managing stress include exercise, setting priorities, and speaking with others, which may include counseling. These demands can come from work, relationships, financial pressures, and other situations, but anything that poses a real or perceived challenge or threat to a person’s well-being can cause stress. Stress can be a motivator, and it can even be essential to survival. The body’s fight-or-flight mechanism tells a person when and how to respond to danger. However, when the body becomes triggered too easily, or there are too many stressors at one time, it can undermine a person’s mental and physical health and become harmful. Share on Pinterest A person with stress may experience increased blood pressure. Stress is the body’s natural defense against predators and danger. It causes the body to flood with hormones that prepare its systems to evade or confront danger. People commonly refer to this as the fight-or-flight mechanism. When humans face a challenge or threat, they have a partly physical response. The body activates resources that help people either stay and confront the challenge or get to safety as fast as possible. The body produces larger quantities of the chemicals cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. These trigger the following physical reactions: • increased blood pressure • heightened muscl...