Everybody encounters stress, nobody is exempted from it. In every facet or our life, in every situation we might come across, every success and failure, up to the very mundane parts of our existence we will face stress. Since it is inescapable, it would seem that experiencing constant stress would then be normal. But there are levels of stress that we can consider to be normal and helpful and there are levels which would generally break us down physically and mentally, this is called chronic stress.
While stress is normal, it is something that should never be ignored. Chronic stress has undesirable and often irreversible effects. To be able to distinguish chronic stress, we should be able to know what exactly it is and how it starts. Chronic stress is defined as the brains continuous response to unfavorable circumstances for an extended period of time. These circumstances are usually beyond the control of the person involved.
Chronic stress develops when the body is exposed to a certain amount of stressors that the brain rarely has a chance to rest. Not that we can handle acute stress by nature, but not chronic stress. Individual tolerance for stress differs. But in one way or another, prolonged exposure to stressors will cause us to break down.
How do you know if the stress youre experiencing is chronic? Observe the signs. Symptoms between acute and chronic stress differ. Chronic stress symptoms include upset stomach, head and back aches, sleeping problems, anxiety, depression, anger, appetite changes, and hypertension. Severe cases of chronic stress may lead to panic attacks or even a panic disorder. Chronic stress also plays a role in depression and cardiovascular diseases. Not only that, but chronic stress makes you look older than you actually are.
Chronic stress basically develops from all the stress and stressors that we face everyday. Constant problems with the boss, colleagues, or with the workplace itself, family problems, financial problems, and whatnot lead to stress. If these problems go on for a long period of time, it results to chronic stress. The first step in handling stress is to identify each stressor so you can deal with them one by one.
Taking the time to know chronic stress will help you in coping up with it. Seek help upon first suspicions of chronic stress. There are a lot of tips and tricks out there that can help you manage your stress levels. There are stress management courses out there which you can enroll. There are methods that are perfected with practice, while some only involves laughing. While a lot of people make money out of stress management, you can handle without spending a dime. Learning to cope up with your own fast-paced life is a good start.
