Meaning of Stress, Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention.

What causes stress and how can we prevent it to stay stress-free for good health?

What do you know about stress?
No one can escape from stress; it is a matter of managing it. Stress is everywhere in our society because of the uncertainty that arises every day at our workplaces, at home, and on our streets where we live. Stress can be due to the loss of jobs, family disputes, discrimination in society, breakups in relationships, financial hardship, disability due to injury, chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, as well as internal sources like feeling unloved, feeling disconnected, lack of self-esteem, and having responsibilities that you cannot control.

Biologically, stress is a normal reaction to a person’s health, but it becomes harmful when it is mistreated and leads to alterations in chemical reactions that stimulate blood pressure to rise, tighten the muscles, and quicken breathing. This can cause the body to fail to perform its duties well, resulting in abnormalities such as low energy, pain in the chest area, loss of appetite, loss of sexual desire, lack of sleep or sleeping too much, anger, mood swings, trauma, headaches, and sometimes an upset stomach, which can eventually lead to a stroke and death. For example, a person who faces a car accident and becomes lame in the legs is likely to experience stress due to their situation.

Types of Stress

Stress appears in different ways and varies from one person to another. Everyone has their own stress, although sometimes it can be the same due to the situations they are experiencing. Situations like pandemics, when they arise, tend to affect a large number of people and bring stress to the entire community.

1. Acute stress, It occurs and lasts for a short period. For example, a new employee may struggle to understand the duties, which helps him or her adapt to the new environment. This type of stress helps you achieve what you want and meet deadlines.
2. Chronic stress, This kind of stress is termed “chronic” because it lasts for a long period and is harmful to your health. For example, a person who has a serious illness for an extended period may be a victim of this kind of stress.

What are the differences between trauma, stressors, and anxiety?

Many people are confused about trauma, stressors, and anxiety in the context of stress. The following are their views and differences:

What is Trauma?

Trauma is a disturbing experience or event that a person encounters in their lifetime and that affects their entire life. These events can include accidents that lead to the loss of loved ones, disappointment, severe business loss, divorce, relationship breakups, chronic diseases, and family disputes, to name a few. Most people who suffer from trauma are those affected by negative events that occurred in the past, and they have no resilience to cope with them. Military officers are victims of trauma due to the nature of their jobs on the battlefield, but many other people also face these traumatic situations.

Example of Trauma

Let us see the story of Jesca. It was midnight when her mother and father fell asleep in their room. At that time, Jesca was studying and making preparations for an exam. Suddenly, she heard the sound of a door breaking and a crying voice coming from her parents’ room. Without hesitation or fear, Jesca rushed to her parents’ room, where she found her father’s head severed by a giant man with a thick beard. The man was attempting to assault her mother. Jesca was shocked and ran away from the scene. This event became a traumatic experience for her. From that time on, Jesca harbored anger and hatred toward people with beards.

What is Stressors?

A stressor is a causative factor for stress to occur. It could be a psychological or physical situation that leads to stress. A negative mindset is a good example of a stressor. Sometimes, unexpected circumstances that an individual faces in daily life can cause stress to occur. There are different types of stressors categorized into time-based stressors, traumatic event stressors, socialization stressors, ensemble stressors, and behavioral stressors. A brief discussion of the types of stressors is provided below.

• Time-based stressors involve time limitations. Individuals may have many things to accomplish within a specific timeframe, which can lead to stress.
• Traumatic event stressors occur when individuals face uncertain situations that are hard to forget and affect psychological, physical, and behavioral well-being.
• Socialization or Ensemble Stressors: Relationships and daily social interactions may cause stress to rise. Individuals may struggle to manage peer pressure, family issues, or workplace problems, leading them to experience discomfort, anxiety, and depression.
• Behavioral Stressors: Individual actions or habits that are not controlled may lead to anxiety and depression. Poor time management, sleeping late at night, and delaying the completion of tasks may cause depression, anxiety, headaches, and a lack of focus. Additionally, the behavior of masturbation may cause guilt and, hence, mental illnesses.

After understanding the above terminologies, I hope you discover their differences and how they affect our lifestyles. Mental health is very important for well-being; however, some risk factors can arise and cause prolonged stress. Let us see what the main causes of stress are.

Understand the 3 main categories of causes of stress.

In this article, we have tried to explain the causes of stress in three categories: events, health issues, and external factors.

1. Events related to stress. As human beings, we undergo different stages and positions in life, and we also face various changes, which can make us more stressed. This is why we see suicides occurring in schools, the army, families, and workplaces due to prolonged trauma. Examples of this type of stress include divorce, retirement, starting college, starting a business, unemployment, financial hardship, pregnancy, and being dismissed from a job, to mention a few. All of these life events may cause stress.
2. Health issues related to stress can lead to serious health problems, especially chronic diseases such as cancer, HIV/AIDS, heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, which are likely to affect mental health. Additionally, injuries can lead to prolonged stress. Most victims of this kind of stress feel loneliness, disconnectedness, depression, isolation, and emotional drain. Sometimes, they may even go so far as to harm themselves.
3. Interpersonal and external factors related to stress include low self-esteem, under- or overconfidence, a negative mindset, internal conflict due to a lack of life fulfillment, stressful traits, and a lack of self-care and respect. All of these may disturb mental health and contribute to a stressful lifestyle. Additionally, social interactions with negative people may influence you to feel as they do.

What are the symptoms of stress?

Most people don’t know if they have stress; this is why it becomes more chronic and difficult to manage. Below are the signs of stress, and if you notice any of the following, you should take the initiative. These signs can be noticed physically and emotionally.

• Physically, once your body feels uncertainty or discomfort, it leads to changes in bodily reactions; hence, you may experience poor sleep, pain in the chest area, digestive problems, loss of sexual desire, several headaches, hypertension due to increased heart rate, and fatigue.
• Emotionally, the body also undergoes changes such as sadness, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, regret, and a lack of self-confidence.

Those symptoms are not fixed; they can vary between individuals and are not limited. Be honest with your body if you notice any changes before the situation becomes worse.

What are the preventive measures for stress?

However, stress is unpredictable. Stress occurs due to various factors, including events, health issues, and interpersonal and external factors. These may contribute to the occurrence of stress, and individuals may not have control over their progression, which can lead to serious mental health issues. The following are preventive strategies to reduce the risk of chronic stress.

• Firstly, you should prioritize your health over anything else by taking a well-balanced diet, exercising, and focusing on your goals.
• Set clear goals that are achievable, and avoid goals that are difficult for you to achieve.
• Stay connected with your family in any harmful circumstances you face, and find someone with whom you can share everything, even if it hurts you.
• Prioritize your sleep schedule and make time to rest each day in order to allow for relaxation, body repair, and growth. Additionally, you can practice meditation or yoga exercises for more relaxation.
• Try to be stronger in difficult times by telling yourself you are a hero and that you can make it while others cannot.
• Do things that make you happy and ignore things that do not benefit you; thus, you have to learn to say NO if things are against you.
• The difference between things that must be done and optional ones is important so that you can prioritize essential tasks within a given time.

Conclusively, mental health is very crucial for overall well-being. Do not allow stress to ruin your life by prioritizing what you believe in and focusing on your personal development. Because once mental health is disrupted, the whole body becomes weak and fails to perform daily activities. It is true that there is no direct treatment for stress, so try to avoid unnecessary things that may risk your mental health.