Acute stress versus chronic stress
Acute stress is the most common type of stress—it refers to threats that require an immediate response from you. That is the kind of stress you get when you cannot find your keys or get stuck in traffic. The distress can cause you to react wildly or suffer emotional dips. It may be bad, or it may be good; it may get us excited or afraid.
Stress becomes chronic when the same acute stressor triggers you so consistently and repeatedly that it becomes a long-term companion. When you continue to start your day by getting stuck in traffic or procrastination causes you to chase deadlines at work every day, it becomes chronic stress. It occurs when stress builds up in the body without relief over an extended period. When we are exposed to constant stressors, even the good kind, the body starts to suffer because it cannot return to its resting state. It remains in a condition/state that it cannot handle and was only meant to be in for a short period.
Acute or chronic, excessive (unmanaged) stress is dangerous. Let me cite an example here. In soccer, a penalty kick can be extremely stressful—a single kick may decide the outcome of a whole match or competition. The expectations involved can weigh on the taker’s mind. If properly managed, it will make him extra alert and careful as he kicks the ball. If the stress becomes too excessive for him, though, he may lose composure and stumble as he goes to kick the ball.
In the same way, when stress is too much for you, the consequences are dire. You stay in a default state of depression or anxiety, which affects your mental health, making it difficult to cope with work, relationships, and regular daily activities. The heart is overworked, your blood pressure is high, and stress-induced chemicals released by the brain permeate the bloodstream. In excess, the chemicals affect cell regeneration. The entire state combines to deplete the immune system, making the individual more susceptible to various minor and terminal diseases, including heart attack and cancer.
Despite this, it is important to understand that stress is a stimulus, and it is how the body reacts to it that determines its impact. For example, even good stress, like going out on a date with someone you fancy, can generate negative outcomes. Usually, everyone tries to appear clever, smart, and likable on a first date. That is why your heart beats faster as you choose the best answer to a question from your date. However, if you fail to manage the stress carefully, you may lose confidence. Then, you may start to worry that your date may not like you or, worse, that he/she won’t show up. As you can see, the situations can be similar while the responses are dissimilar. So, your perception of the stressor is vital.
That is why the lines that differentiate good stress from bad stress are not always clear. Good stress can become bad if it is not managed properly. That also means that bad stress can become good stress. So, the key factors in determining the impact of stress are its duration, the amount, and your response to the stress.
Therefore, understanding and learning to manage stress is an essential hack for a happy, productive life.
This article is an excerpt from the book “10 Proven Ways to Relieve Stress Now.”
