You look at the clock and then look back down to your screen. The cursor blinks at you as if it's begging you to start typing. Your shoulders begin to tense up knowing that your deadline is coming up and you are far from completing it. With the sound of the clock ticking, ideas start to flow, and this project becomes effortless.
Stress, like anxiety, is a normal part of life. It comes and goes depending on the situation. The phenomenon can be beneficial since it is a pathway to enter a "flow state." There are two types of instances where people find themselves feeling stressed:
- 1Situations or events that put pressure on us, such as tight deadlines on a big project at work.
- 2Our reaction to being placed under pressure, such as completing or failing tasks due to a tight deadline.
As stated before, stress can be healthy. Being under pressure can revitalize you and give you an edge. However, high-levels of stress occurring on a regular basis can be harmful to your health.
What are the Three Types of Stress?
1. Acute Stress
2. Episodic Acute Stress
Episodic acute stress is a result of frequent acute stress. Furthermore, this can also develop from taking on too much responsibility. Those who worry a lot are more prone to experiencing this type of stress. One who has episodic acute stress can experience symptoms similar to acute stress, but they occur more often. Left unmanaged, symptoms can lead to clinical depression or heart disease.
3. Chronic Stress
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Symptoms of Chronic Stress
Physical Symptoms
Mental Symptoms
How is Stress Diagnosed?
What are some stress relief strategies?
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Therapists use an array of different treatment types to help people cope with stress. Cognitive behavioral therapy for example, changes negative thought patterns, of which instigate stress. Utilizing this modality is effective for minimizing stress because it provides you with new ways to think about and address stress inducing events/situations.
Stress is a natural part of life, and there are many resources available to help you minimize the effects of stress. As mentioned above, left untreated, stress can cause some severe consequences. When in doubt, you can always talk with your doctor/therapist to discuss what you are experiencing and what can be done to help with the problem.
Sources
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/stress/what-is-stress/
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/11874-stress
https://www.flushinghospital.org/newsletter/the-3-different-types-of-stress-and-how-each-can-affect-our-health/
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.645498/full
