The Common Types of Stress
External or internal stress are triggers. Triggers may be an object, a person, or a situation that causes a negative emotional or physical response.
Stress is a general and regular part of our life. Sometimes, stress can be beneficial. It may indicate pressure to get work done, to strive to ace a test, or to run the last mile because you want to break your record.
Like every normal feeling or behavior, if stress is long-term or consistent, it can be destructive. More or less stress vary in circumstance and severity. Here are three common types of stress that you might experience in your life:
Acute Stress
Acute stress is a form of internal stress that may momentarily make you feel bad about yourself. This is a quick and unexpected reaction to an unprecedented event.
As stress is a response to an adverse event, it can cause anxiety and other negative feelings. In understanding stress and anxiety, it's important to note that acute stress may be momentary, but it can shake you up. This is why it's essential to develop ways to calm down so that you can cope healthily if you're experiencing acute stress.
Related Article: 5 Ways To Calm Down
Episodic Acute Stress
Episodic acute stress is a common type of internal stress that is a cycle or is periodic. The symptoms are similar to acute stress but are more often and persistent.
For example, if you are in a workplace that sets unrealistic goals to meet a particular deadline, you'll most likely experience episodic acute stress. Since stress is a negative response because there are pressures around you, a healthy work-life balance may be hard if there are unrealistic goals that should be met.
If stress is too much, it's crucial to find ways to solve the problem that is causing internal stress. Of course, quitting your job may be hard because you're thinking about the financial strain it might leave.
Although quitting is a way for you to eliminate the cause of stress, through therapy, your therapist can help you with coping techniques that may not cause any strain.
If you're looking for therapists, Butlr Health offers teletherapy with therapists of your preference.
Chronic Stress
If episodic acute stress is untreated or unresolved, it can develop to Chronic stress. Chronic stress is a consistent and persistent common type of stress that can wear you down. It is the highest factor that can form a mental disorder.
Chronic stress is also a consistent and persistent negative response to huge problems in your life that may be impossibly dealt with or resolved by just one individual: War, racism, sexism, and poverty are examples.
What's important when you feel internal stress is that although stressful situations feel permanent, your perception about it can change. Understanding Stress and anxiety is a critical way to bring awareness. By being aware of which type of stress you're experiencing, you can develop a coping plan that can help you manage the negative feelings you have about the situation.
If you feel you can't manage the thoughts you're having and the stress you are feeling, it's vital to seek help. Consulting a mental health professional can be a formative experience for you. Through your therapist, you can learn healthy coping techniques whenever stressful situations are triggering you.
