How Stress Really Affects You

Stress relates to the feeling of tension experienced on either an emotional, physical, or a psychological level. Not all types of stress are the harmful type. Either way, people encounter good and bad stress daily, making it impossible to avoid.

Even so, some stress people do not have to avoid. More specifically, positive stress referred to as Eustress helps people to feel more alive and excited. Commonly, watching movies or riding on a roller coaster enhances the amount of positive stress experienced. Furthermore, positive stress helps people overcome negative situations by allowing them to view the situation as more of a challenge.

When people view a negative situation as more of a challenge, it becomes easier for them to experience success instead of becoming overwhelmed. Moreover, this type of stress helps people keep the competitive edge needed for such things as sports or getting a promotion. Eustress falls under an acute type of stress, which refers to a short-lived experience a person has.

Contrarily, acute stress may take on more of a negative experience as well. Usually referred to as episodic acute stress, this occurs when stressful feelings become a way of life. On the other hand, when people experience stress as never ending and as something they cannot escape, this refers to chronic stress. A bad marriage or poor job situation is the types of experiences, which contribute to the development of chronic stress.

Continuously living with the feelings from chronic stress can eventually lead to a person burning out. Generally, this occurs in response to a constant state of physiological arousal. The constant state of arousal does not allow the body to have the amount of relaxation needed. As Walter Cannon discovered, the innate physiological response to a perceived threat is "fight or flight."

The human brain is biologically programmed to respond protectively in this manner, which results in the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system. Consequently, the HPA system produces and releases a combination of steroid hormones called glucorticoids and stress hormones known as Cortisol. In order to deal with the perceived threat, Cortisol works quickly in the organization of various systems throughout the body. During this time, a person's heart rate increases, while their circulation and digestion slows.

In addition, other areas of the body gain in strength and energy. Following the removal of the threat, the body works to regain homeostasis by activating the body's relaxation mechanisms. However, this does not occur when people experience chronic stress. Continuous activation of the autonomic nervous system over time eventually triggers physical symptoms.

At first, mild symptoms tend to present as headaches and a weakened immune system. As people continue to experience chronic stress, mild symptoms may become more severe and varied. With that in mind, people should utilize different methods and strategies effective in keeping stress levels down. Organization, learning, and time management work effectively with helping people to reduce the amount of stress in their lives.

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