Everyone experiences stress in their life from time to time. Unfortunately, you can’t just banish it from your life the way you can cover an age spot with a dark spot remover. What you might not know is that there are several different types of stress, as well as many different ways that stress symptoms can show up in your mind and body. In this guide, we cover the main types of stress and the top symptoms of stress you should look for before briefly touching on some coping mechanisms to help you manage your stress in everyday life.
Types of Stress
There are three main types of stress: acute stress, chronic stress, and eustress. Acute stress is short-term stress that goes away quickly. It is usually triggered by a temporary circumstance, such as taking an exam, having to give a presentation, or having a fight with your partner. Acute stress fades as soon as the stressful situation is over.
Chronic stress lasts for a longer period of time. Chronic stress is typically caused by ongoing circumstances, such as financial problems, difficulty finding a new position after a job loss, relationship issues, or trouble finding steady housing. Chronic stress may last for weeks, months, or even years, and it can be difficult to realize that it’s a problem if you’ve been coping with it for a really long time.
Eustress is beneficial or positive stress. Eustress motivates people to push themselves harder and work to achieve their goals or overcome challenges. Some examples of situations that might cause eustress are planning a wedding and training for a marathon. Eustress is typically accompanied by positive feelings like excitement and anticipation in addition to the stress itself.
Symptoms of Stress
Stress can show up in many different ways, and two people may present completely different symptoms of stress. It’s important to get to know yourself so that you know your personal signs and symptoms of stress. Take steps to mitigate it.
Many people experience physiological symptoms of stress in their body. This can show up as stomach aches or cramps, nausea and vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, difficulty swallowing, and a choking feeling. Some people experience headaches and migraines, as well as muscle tension and body aches. This often leads to grinding teeth, muscle spasms, and other side effects. You might also experience a rapid heartbeat or heart palpitations, as well as sweating and shaking. With chronic stress, some people also see weight loss or weight gain due to changes in diet.
Stress also shows up cognitively when it comes to mental functioning. When under stress, many people struggle to concentrate as well as make decisions. These cognitive issues can make it difficult to concentrate on work and basic daily activities, so you might find yourself forgetting essential things like sending an email to your boss or picking up groceries. You might also find yourself overwhelmed with racing thoughts and constant worries when your anxiety is at its peak.
Experiencing stress also impacts your emotions. Some people get feelings of anxiety and nervousness, which may be accompanied by a feeling of restlessness as well. Other people experience sadness and depression and may cry often or become shut down. Still others experience mood swings and may move rapidly from anxiety to depression and back again. Many people are also far more irritable when under stress and may have angry outbursts that feel out of proportion. You may also feel totally overwhelmed and out of control, especially under chronic stress.
These mental, emotional, and bodily changes will often manifest as behavioral changes as well. Some people lose their appetite when under stress while others overeat as a coping mechanism. Others turn to alcohol, drugs, or tobacco to help them manage stress in an unhealthy way. Many people struggle with sleeping and may get outright insomnia.
They may also withdraw from social activities and hobbies and isolate themselves from loved ones. They may avoid essential tasks and struggle to complete work or school assignments. When under serious stress, some people may even give up on basic personal hygiene, such as showering regularly or applying their anti-aging skin care routine.
Ways to Manage Stress
The most obvious solution to experiencing stress is to remove the stressor from your life, but that’s rarely possible to accomplish in reality. Fortunately, there are other coping mechanisms that can help you manage your stress in a more healthy way. Many people find talk therapy beneficial, and a well-trained therapist can teach you ways to reduce your stress levels and interrupt negative thinking patterns.
If you are struggling with chronic anxiety, medication can help with that. There are also medications that can help manage the side effects of stress, such as sleep aid for insomnia and antacids for stomach upset. Many people also find alternative medicine beneficial, such as acupuncture, massage, yoga, and meditation.
Establishing a daily routine and following a healthy lifestyle will also help you cope with stress. It’s really important to try to get enough sleep every night and to eat a healthy and well-balanced diet while drinking enough water. Getting into a regular exercise routine will help you build your physical resilience and also release feel-good hormones like dopamine that will help to raise your mood. Self-care activities, such as trying out a new skincare set or taking a hot bath, can also help you temporarily boost your mood.
We’ve barely scratched the surface when it comes to managing stress, so we’d love to hear what your best stress coping mechanisms are. Do you splurge on special purchases or book yourself a day at the spa? What about going for a walk in nature or taking a little trip to get away? Let us know your favorite ways to manage stress in the comments below!
