What is stress?

According to healthline.com
(Medically reviewed by
Timothy J. Legg, PhD, PsyD,
Stress is a situation that
triggers a particular biological
response. When you perceive
a threat or a major challenge,
chemicals and hormones
surge throughout your body.
Stress triggers your fight-or-flight
response in order to fight the
stressor or run away from it.
Typically, after the response
occurs, your body should relax.
Too much constant stress can
have negative effects on your
long-term health.
Is all stress bad?
Not all the time!
Because sometimes,
stress is good
But remember!
But stress should be temporary. Once
you’ve passed the fight-or-flight
moment, your heart rate and
breathing should slow down, and your
muscles should relax. In a short time,
your body should return to its natural
state without any lasting negative
effects.
Defining stress
Stress is a normal biological
reaction to a potentially dangerous
situation. When you encounter
sudden stress, your brain floods
your body with chemicals and
hormones such as adrenaline and
cortisol.
Stress hormones
When you sense danger, the
hypothalamus at the base of
your brain reacts. It sends nerve
and hormone signals to
your adrenal glands, which
release an abundance of
Adrenaline works to:
• increase your heartbeat or heart rate
• increase your breathing rate
• make it easier for your muscles to glucose
• contract blood vessels so blood is
directed to the muscles
• stimulate perspiration
• Inhibit insulin production
frequent adrenaline surges can lead to:
• damaged blood vessels
• High blood pressure or hypertension
• higher risk of heart attack and stroke
• Headaches
• Anxiety
• insomnia
• weight gain
Stress and cortisol
Cortisol plays an essential role in stressful
situations. Among its functions are:
• Increase of glucose
• Helps the brain to use glucose more effectively
• Helps tissue repair
• altering immune system response
• dampening the reproductive system and
growth process
• affecting parts of the brain that control fear,
motivation, and mood
But if your cortisol levels stay
high for too long, it has a
negative impact on your health.
It can contribute to:
• weight gain
• high blood pressure
• Sleep problems
• lack of energy
• Type 2 diabetes
• osteoporosis
• mental cloudiness (brain fog) and
memory problems
• a weakened immune system,
leaving you more vulnerable to
infections
KINDS OF STRESS
1. Acute Stress
2. Episodic Acute
Stress
3. Chronic Stress
1. Acute Stress
Acute stress happens to
everyone.
Severe acute stress is
a different story.
2. Episodic Acute
Stress
Episodic Acute
Stress is when
you have frequent
episodes of acute
stress
This might happen if
you’re often anxious
and worried about
things you suspect
may happen.
As with severe acute
stress, episodic acute
stress can affect your
physical health and
mental well being.
There are several reasons why
this might happen:
•Taking on too much
responsibility
•Bad luck
•Having interpersonal
difficulties
https://
www.manhattancbt.co
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3. Chronic Stress
Chronic stress is a
prolonged and constant
feeling of stress that can
negatively affect your health
if it goes untreated. It can
be caused by the everyday
pressures of family and
work or by traumatic
situations.
Chronic stress occurs when the
body experiences stressors with
such frequency or intensity that
the autonomic nervous system
 does not have an adequate
chance to activate the 
relaxation response on a regular
basis. This means that the body
remains in a constant state of
physiological arousal.
Symptoms
Symptoms
 Aches and pains
 Decreased energy
 Difficulty sleeping
 Disorganized thinking
 Fatigue
 Feeling a loss of control
 Feelings of helplessness
 Frequent illnesses and infections
 Gastrointestinal complaints
 Headaches
 Irritability
 Muscle tension
 Nervousness and anxiety
 Trouble concentrating
 Upset stomach
Treatment
•Psychotherapy
• Medications
https://
www.verywellmind.com/
chronic-stress-3145104