Stress: the causes, how to prevent it and the types.

Stress is the body's reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response. The body reacts to these changes with physical, mental, and emotional responses.Stress is a normal part of life. You can experience stress from your environment, your body, and your thoughts. 

Stress can be positive, keeping us alert, motivated, and ready to avoid danger. Stress becomes negative when a person faces continuous challenges without relief or relaxation between stressors.Stress that continues without relief can lead to a condition called distress – a negative stress reaction.

Distress can disturb the body's internal balance or equilibrium, leading to physical symptoms such as headaches, an upset stomach, elevated blood pressure, chest pain, sexual dysfunction, and problems sleeping. Emotional problems can also result from distress.

These substances or behaviors include food, alcohol, tobacco, drugs, gambling, sex, shopping, and the Internet. Stress is linked to 6 of the leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents, cirrhosis bof the liver, and suicide.

 Signs of stress?

Stress can wear down the body's natural defenses and this includes the following:

• Muscle tension in neck, face or shoulders.
• Problems sleeping.
• Racing heart.
• Cold and sweaty palms.
• Tiredness, exhaustion.
• Trembling/shaking.
• Weight gain or loss.
• Upset stomach, diarrhea.
• Sexual difficulties.
• Dizziness or a general feeling of "being out of it."
• General aches and pains.
• Grinding teeth, clenched jaw.
• Headaches.
• Indigestion or acid reflux symptoms.
• Increase in or loss of appetite.

How to reduce stress

Many can learn to manage stress and lead happier, healthier lives. Here are some of  the following tips:

• Keep a positive attitude.
• Accept that there are events that you cannot control.
• Be assertive instead of aggressive. Assert your feelings, opinions, or beliefs instead of becoming angry, defensive, or passive.
• Learn and practice relaxation techniques; try meditation, yoga, or tai-chi.
• Exercise regularly. Your body can fight stress better when it is fit.
• Eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
• Learn to manage your time more effectively.
• Set limits appropriately and say no to requests that would create excessive stress in your life.
• Make time for hobbies and interests.
• Get enough rest and sleep. Your body needs time to recover from stressful events.
• Don't rely on alcohol, drugs, or compulsive behaviors to reduce stress.
• Seek out social support. Spend enough time with those you love.
• Seek treatment with a psychologist or other mental health professional trained in stress management or biofeedback techniques to learn more healthy ways of dealing with the stress in your life.

APA recognizes three different type of stress, which are:

 Acute stress

Acute stress is often caused by thinking about the pressures of events that have recently occurred.It does not cause the same amount of damage as long-term, chronic stress. 

Chronic stress

It occurs when a person never sees an escape from the cause of stress and stops seeking solutions. Sometimes, it can be caused by a traumatic experience early in life.People with chronic stress are likely to have a final breakdown that can lead to suicide, violent actions, heart attacks, and strokes.

Episodic acute stress

A person with too many commitments and poor organization can find themselves displaying episodic stress symptoms. This type of stress can also lead to high blood pressure and heart disease.

Stress also becomes harmful when people engage in the compulsive use of substances or behaviors to try to relieve their stress.