Stress: Understanding Three Types and Symptoms

Stress, a simple five-letter word, is becoming a concern in the lives of many. Given the lifestyle, it has become an inevitable part of humans. Stress can indeed be challenging to deal with, whether aroused by personal or professional factors. However, acknowledging and understanding the condition is the first way to activate your coping mechanism.

While a psychiatrist in Satellite, Ahmedabad or anywhere you live can surely explain your stress in detail, this blog sheds light on it briefly.

Types of Stress:

Three common types of stress are as follows:

Acute Stress

It is generally a body’s temporary response to specific demands or situations. Actual stress releases cortisol and adrenaline, activating the body's fight-or-flight mechanism. Factors like exams, deadlines, traffic, or unforeseen circumstances often trigger it. This stress is manageable and might help the person cope with ongoing tasks. Lastly, it solves independently as soon as the stressor is eliminated.

Chronic Stress

It is a persistent or long-term stress that a person struggles with for a long time. Chronic stress often affects a person's emotional, mental, and physical well-being and arises from multiple factors or circumstances. It can include financial concerns, work pressures, health conditions, relationship issues, etc.

Continuous exposure to cortisol and other stress hormones can affect the person’s cardiovascular health, mental well-being, digestion, immune system/function, and sleep. Thus, managing chronic stress becomes essential. One can start by bringing in lifestyle changes or seeking professional help.

Episodic Acute Stress

This refers to repetitive stress episodes often experienced by people who worry excessively or are overburdened with responsibilities. The primary trigger of this stress is a state of continuous crisis. People struggling with episodic acute stress may experience symptoms like tension, irritation, anxiety, and other physical concerns associated with stress.

Symptoms of Stress:

The symptoms of stress can vary from person to person. However, some generic observations according to the types of stress are articulated below.

Acute Stress

• Increased heart rate

• Widened pupils

• Anxiety

• Increased sweating

• Deep, rapid breathing

• Sleep disturbances

• Emotional fluctuations

Chronic Stress

• Insomnia

• Weight gain

• Chronic headaches

• Emotional exhaustion

• Panic attacks

Episodic Acute Stress

• Sense of being overwhelmed

• Muscle tension

• Increased irritability and anxiety

• Hypertension

• Migraines

Conclusion

Stress is turning into a major concern in this fast-paced world. Managing and monitoring it becomes essential to maintain one’s quality of life. Since knowledge is the first step to managing stress, this blog briefly covered the types and symptoms. If you need to understand the condition better, schedule an appointment with the best psychiatrist doctor at Swasti Spine & Mind Care in Ahmedabad.