Types Of Stress: The Info You Should Know

We have already discovered that stress can be physical or mental.  The most common form of stress is acute stress.  This is what people normally refer to when they talk about having stress.  Acute stress can cause gastrointestinal upsets, headaches, anxiety, and pressure.  This form of stress is treated easily and can sometimes be cleared up in six to eight weeks.  You would probably do some behavioral changes and learn to eat healthy and relax.

Episodic acute stress may be caused by one single event.  This event could be an accident, loss of a loved one, or a bad scare.  It can lead to more serious conditions such as migraines, stroke, heart attack, anxiety, and depression.  This form of stress is treatable but it will require lifestyle changes and it may take up to six months to show any improvement.  Episodic acute stress may need the intervention by a professional.

Chronic stress is the most serious form of stress.  It is the stress that is continuous and seems to never end.  It can weigh us down, eat away our positive thoughts, and cause severe physical problems in our body.  Diabetes, low immune system, and even cancer has been linked to chronic stress.  Treatment for this form of stress may take two to three years and occasionally even longer.

Traumatic stress is the result of stress that has piled up through the years.  This is stress that never eases, is always present and may take years for the symptoms to appear.  Often when they do appear, they take the form of nightmares or flashbacks to the traumatic event.  The event may be so traumatic the person develops posttraumatic stress syndrome.

Posttraumatic stress syndrome is serious, but it is treatable.  It will take time, the stress didn’t appear overnight and it won’t go away overnight.  The person suffering from posttraumatic stress syndrome has to have a strong motivation to heal.  They will need a strong support system, and perhaps drug therapy.  They will also need a specialist trained in the latest treatments to treat this syndrome.

These forms of stress do not mean the end of a normal life.  Treatment, drug therapy and lifestyle changes can reduce stress and help you live a healthier, happier life.  Learn stress-reducing techniques.  Focus on the stressors that give you problems.  Think of ways you can better cope with those stresses.  Can changing the way you go to work cut out one stress?  Maybe you can find only one area of conflict with your teenager.  Maybe your spouse’s annoying habit can be ignored.  Picking your battles, and ignoring the events that are not that important can help reduce stress.

Ask yourself one question.  Will this event be so important in five years? Usually the answer to that question is no and will let you put the stressful event into perspective.  Learn to relax and put some fun into your day.  Laughter is a great stress reliever.  Keep an uplifting book handy and reach for it when life starts to get you down.