The word stress is too commonly used in our daily conversations to address frustrating situations, but were you aware that stress is actually categorized into 3 main types which are acute, episodic and chronic. In reality there is more to stress that what meets the eye and the mind.
Acute Stress
Acute stress is the first one and it’s also the most common one that psychologists identify in patients. It’s caused by the daily demands and pressures encountered by us. Whether is being struck in traffic or deadlines to meet at work, the stress related to these causes is acute stress. Some of the most common health complications related to acute stress are tension, headaches and vomiting. In addition it’s short term and usually tends to go away by itself in a very short period of time.
Episodic Stress
Episodic stress as the name suggests this is a type of stress that is irregular but long term. There are periods of time when this stress is active and is mainly self-inflicted by hanging on to issues that are unreasonably at most times. Another fact to note about those who suffer from episodic stress is that it is mostly seen in people with type A personalities. These personalities are usually aggressive, competitive or demanding.
Chronic Stress
The third and most harmful of all is chronic stress. It is a much more serious stress type with symptoms that directly affect all aspects of your health and life. As some psychologists describe “chronic stress tears the life of a person apart his mind, body or spirit.” This type of stress is brought forth by long term exposure to stressors such as traumatic experiences, financial burdens and chronic illnesses. It is a known leading cause for heart attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder and clinical depression. If you do identify its symptoms in time it can be treated through medicine prescribed by a licensed psychiatrist.
The ability to understand the different types of stress and being able to identify them can help you help your loved ones or your close friends get the right treatment if needed. Stress is a leading cause of several health complications and also tends to hinder healing for back, knee and neck pain in some cases. So the next time you do see that someone close to you is suffering from stress, remember to head to back to this post and try to classify their stress type so that they can get the help they need to live a long and healthy life.