2024-01-04 01:12:00
Stress is of two types: acute stress and chronic stress (Illustrative image Infobae)
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), “stress can be defined as a state of worry or mental tension generated by a difficult situation.” And, although all people live with a certain degree of stress, “since it is a natural response to threats and other stimuli,” the way we react to this situation “marks the way it affects our welfare”.
The truth is that stress affects both the mind and the body. “It is positive to have a little, as it helps us carry out daily activities, but when stress becomes excessive it has physical and psychological consequences,” warns the highest international health entity. However, “we can learn to deal with it to feel less overwhelmed and improve our physical and mental well-being.”
In that sense, the National Institutes of Health of the United States warned that stress can present itself in different ways, although it is usually divided into two types: acute and chronic stress, although both affect the physical and mental health of those. they suffer them.
One of the most common symptoms of stress is a headache (Freepik)
It is important to highlight that stress is not in itself negative, but rather it is a necessary adaptive reaction that allows us to carry out the activities of daily life such as academic tasks or work responsibilities. It is your body’s reaction to a challenge or demand.
As indicated from the NIH . , the body “reacts to stress by releasing hormones,” which make the “brain more alert, cause your muscles to tense, and your pulse to increase.” “In the short term, these reactions are good because they can help you manage the situation that is causing the stress. “This is your body’s way of protecting itself,” they said.
At the same time, they clarified that “in small episodes, 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 can harm your health.” Some symptoms that can negatively affect the body are: difficulty relaxing and concentrating, feelings of anxiety and irritability, headaches, sleeping problems, and alcohol and tobacco consumption may even increase. That’s why recognizing the signs of stress and learning to deal with them constructively is crucial.
The stress response is the fight or flight mode that is characterized by an increase in heart rate (Illustrative Image Infobae)
Acute stress “goes away quickly. You can feel it when you hit the brakes, fight with your partner, or ski on a slope. This helps you control dangerous situations. It also happens when you do something new or exciting. “Everyone feels acute stress at some point or another,” which triggers intense fight-or-flight reactions in the human body.
According to the American Institute of Stress (AIS), fight or flight mode comprises a series of reactions to acute stress that are a consequence of the release of adrenaline as an increase in heart and respiratory rate, as well as blood pressure. A scientific article published in the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the largest library in the world, explains that in extreme situations, people’s abilities to manage their emotions are exceeded, which leads to disturbances in mental health.
If the symptoms of acute stress last more than a month then it is post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), whose symptoms can also include flashbacks, nightmares and severe anxiety, as well as repetitive thoughts regarding the terrifying event that triggered this type of stress. acute stress. According to the Mayo Clinic, patients living with this condition tend to be war veterans, for example.
Chronic stress is common in work environments that are too demanding and in which there is excess work (Illustrative image Infobae)
Chronic stress “lasts for a long period of time.” “You may have chronic stress if you have money problems, an unhappy marriage, or problems at work. Any type of stress that continues for weeks or months is chronic stress,” the NIH points out. At the same time, they state that “you can get so used to chronic stress that you don’t realize it’s a problem.”
The cumulative impact of chronic stress is of concern among health professionals, as it can cause progressive and complex disturbances in a person’s ability to manage and recover from pressure. It must be taken into account that chronic stress not only affects productivity and work performance, but also has the potential to negatively influence the quality of life outside of work.
Some of the symptoms of this type of stress are insomnia, mild pain in different parts of the body, lack of concentration, changes in appetite (increase or decrease), increased consumption of alcohol or drugs, changes in social behavior (preferring to be at home instead of going out) and low energy or vitality.
Beyond these descriptions, it is important to keep in mind that “if you feel overwhelmed by stress or if it is affecting your health” it is best to consult with an expert. In that vein, the NIH summarized “reasons why you may need to seek more help,” highlighting: feelings of panic (such as dizziness, rapid breathing, or a fast heartbeat), being unable to work or function at home, or at work, have fears that you cannot control or are having flashbacks of a traumatic event, are some of the “signs” that you need the guidance of a professional.
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