Why stressed

Some people can experience several stressors in a row or at once without this leading a severe stress reaction. Others may have a stronger response to a single stressor. An individual who feels as though they do not have enough resources to cope will probably have a stronger reaction that could trigger health problems.

Stressors affect individuals in different ways. Some experiences that people generally consider to be positive can lead to stress, such as having a baby, going on vacation, moving to a better home, and getting a promotion at work. The reason for this is that they typically involve a significant change, extra effort, new responsibilities, and a need for adaptation. They also often require a person to take steps into the unknown.

A person may look forward to an increased salary following a promotion, for example, but wonder whether they can handle the extra responsibilities.

A persistently negative response to challenges can have an adverse effect on health and happiness. For example, a review of studies found associations between work-related stress and coronary heart disease. Despite this, the authors could not confirm the exact mechanisms through which stress causes coronary heart disease. Other literature has shown that people who perceive stress as having a negative effect on their health may be at higher risk for coronary heart disease than those who do not.

However, being more alert to the effects of stress may help a person manage it more effectively and cope better. These require different levels of management. This type of stress is short-term and usually the more common form of stress. Acute stress often develops when people consider the pressures of events that have recently occurred or face upcoming challenges in the near future.

For example, a person may feel stressed about a recent argument or an upcoming deadline. However, the stress will reduce or disappear once a person resolves the argument or meets the deadline. Acute stressors are often new and tend to have a clear and immediate solution. Even with the more difficult challenges that people face, there are possible ways to get out of the situation. Acute stress does not cause the same amount of damage as long-term, chronic stress.

Short-term effects include tension headaches and an upset stomach , as well as a moderate amount of distress. However, repeated instances of acute stress over an extended period can become chronic and harmful.

Ongoing poverty, a dysfunctional family, or an unhappy marriage are examples of situations that can cause chronic stress.

It occurs when a person can see no way to avoid their stressors and stops seeking solutions. A traumatic experience early in life may also contribute to chronic stress.

Chronic stress makes it difficult for the body to return to a normal level of stress hormone activity, which can contribute to problems in the following systems :. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders, such as post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD , can develop when stress becomes chronic.

Chronic stress can continue unnoticed, as people can become used to feeling agitated and hopeless. People with chronic stress are at risk of having a final breakdown that can lead to suicide, violent actions, a heart attack , or stroke.

People react differently to stressful situations. What is stressful for one person may not be stressful for another, and almost any event can potentially cause stress.

For some people, just thinking about a trigger or several smaller triggers can cause stress. There is no identifiable reason why one person may feel less stressed than another when facing the same stressor. Mental health conditions, such as depression , or a building sense of frustration, injustice, and anxiety can make some people feel stressed more easily than others. Some people experience ongoing stress after a traumatic event, such as an accident or some kind of abuse.

But I do know that people can get high blood pressure in response to stress, or heart arrhythmias ; others will have problems in the gastrointestinal tract, like acid reflux or inflammatory bowel disease. Instead of reaching for these quick and less-healthy options, consider adding fresh whole foods such as fiber-rich fruits and veggies , fish, nuts, and even dark chocolate to your stress management arsenal. It might also help to put away your phone and focus on eating as a sensory experience.

Turn on some soft, soothing music, close your eyes between bites, and savor the textures and flavors to reduce anxiety. Fortunately, there are many ways to prevent stress from pushing you over that proverbial edge and jangling your nervous system.

At the Benson-Henry Institute, Dossett teaches her patients evidenced-based mind-body skills to reduce anxiety, ranging from mindfulness meditation apps like Headspace and Calm make it easy to learn , yoga, and breathing. These sources and sites offer information that can help you lower stress in your life or deal with unavoidable stressors in a healthier way.

By subscribing you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Health Topics. Health Tools. Reviewed: November 6, Medically Reviewed. Our wired culture also contributes to more of us feeling out of control more of the time.

How Much Stress Is Unhealthy? What Is Stress? In a poll conducted by the Kaiser Family Foundation in April of , 53 percent of adults in the United States said their mental health has been negatively affected because of stress caused by the pandemic.

In addition, 36 percent of individuals said they had difficulty sleeping, 32 percent said their appetite was affected, 12 percent admitted to increased drinking or substance use. Stress and Politics, Health, and Violence Studies have shown that politics is also a major source of stress right now no surprise. The APA survey found that 62 percent of Americans find the current political climate stressful.

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American Psychological Association. Accessed March 5,