Stress Awareness

What is stress?

According to A.D.A.M Medical Encyclopedia, "stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. Stress is your body's reaction to a challenge or demand. In short bursts, stress can be positive, such as when it helps you avoid danger or meet a deadline. But when stress lasts for a long time, it may harm your health." 

Stress is our body's natural response to a trigger. The fight or flight mode is initiated when we feel we are in danger, whether the danger is real or imagined. Not all stress is bad, when we are in physical danger, stress helps us to react quickly to protect ourselves. Stress that has to do with psycho-emotional issues is more complicated because the fight or flight response becomes activated but there is no animate object or person to fight off. 

Types of Stress

There are three main categories of stress: acute, episodic, and chronic. In relation to these three, there are more specific breakdowns of the type of stress one is experiencing: physical stress, psychological stress, psychosocial stress, or psychospiritual stress.

There are many side effects of stress that are both mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual. Stress is also a comorbid condition that can present itself or worsen with anxiety, depression, chronic illness, unstable living or financial situations, etc. 

Common Stressors 

Life Change Events - death of a spouse/friend/pet, divorce, work and financial struggles 

Traumatic Stressors - war, victim of a violent crime, natural disaster, medical illness 

Chronic Stressors - family role/work role strains, discrimination, poverty, caregiving

De-Stress Guide 2021 from Stress Management Society 

A go to guide on what is stress, where it comes from, what it does, and what to do about it.