Stress, either psychological or physical, is a natural reaction and the response that the human body has to changes or stressors. There are three types of stress:
- Acute - an event that is short term in nature.
- Acute episodic - frequent short term event.
- Chronic - events that are persistant in nature (Harvard, 2021).
The stress reaction is one of protection and the human designed to react to stress. As parrt of the Autonomic Nervous System, the hypothalamus in the brain sets off the fight or flight reaction when an individual perceives a threat. In response to nervous and hormonal signals, adrenal glands, on top of the kidney, release hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol (stress hormones). Adrenaline increases the heart rate, blood pressure, and energy, while cortisol increases glucose, enhances the use of glucose by the brain and increases substances that repair tissues. Cortisol also slows down bodily functions that are not useful in the fight or flight reaction (Mayo Clinic, 2025)(Cleveland Clinic, 2024).
With acute stress, the stress resolves quickly. Everyone, at different parts of their lives, experience acute stress. With chronic stress, if the stress is not managed, health issues may arise. As a result of the activation of the Autonomic Nervous System and the resulting in nervous and hormonal sequalae. There are many symptoms of stress that can occur. The symptoms can be physical, psychological, or behavioral. Symptoms include:
Physical
- Muscular pain
- Chest pain
- Exhaustion
- insomnia
- Headaches
- Dizziness
- Hypertension
- Muscle Tension
- Jaw clenching
- Digestive problems
- Weakened immune system
- Infertility
Psychological
- Alcohol Use Disorder
- Gambling Disorder
- Eating Disorder
- Hypersexuality
- Smoking
- Substancce Use Disorder (Mayo Clinic, 2025)(Cleveland Clinic, 2024)(Medline Plus, 2024).
There are things that can be done to manage stress when it happens in order to manage stress when it happens in order to decrease the impact of the stress, including:
- Eating a healthy diet
- Mindful eating
- Regular exercise
- Getting enough sleep (Read our article on Sleep hygiene, https://healthylivingforyourself.blogspot.com/2025/05/sleep-hygiene.html)
- Meditation
- Journaling
- Hobbies
- Friendships
- Volunteer
- Work - Life balance
- Set goals
- Social support
- Mental Health counseling (Harvard, 2021)(Mayo Clinic, 2025)(Cleveland Clinic, 2024)(Medline Plus, 2024).
Cleveland Clinic. (2024) Stress. Cleveland Clinic. Retrieved from https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11874-stress
Harvard. (2021) Stress and Health. Harvard School of Public Health. Retrieved from https://nutritionsource.hsph.harvard.edu/stress-and-health/
Mayo Clinic. (2025) Stress Management. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037
Medline Plus. (2024) Stress and your Health. Medline Plus. Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003211.htm
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