Stress

Acute Stress (short-term stress) comes from demands and pressures of the recent past and anticipated demands and pressures of the near future. Acute stress can be thrilling and exciting in small doses, but too much becomes exhausting.

Overloading on acute (short-term) stress can lead to what is known as chronic stress, which wreaks havoc through long-term attrition. Chronic stress may be the result of being in a dysfunctional family, trapped in an unhappy marriage or in a despised job or unsatisfying career. Chronic stress arises when a person can not see a way out of a miserable situation. It's the stress of unrelenting demands and pressures for seemingly interminable periods of time. With no hope, the individual gives up searching for a solution and tries to adapt to the situation.

People become immediately aware of acute stress because it is new but they ignore chronic stress because it is familiar and sometimes, almost comfortable. Chronic stress, if left untreated, can lead to undesirable or dangerous outcomes. These may include suicide, violence, heart attack, stroke, and even cancer. In chronic stress, people may become so worn out that a breakdown becomes inevitable.

The Facts and Figures

• 75% of the general population experiences at least some stress every two weeks (National Health Interview Survey)
• Stress contributes to heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke and other illnesses
• While stress doesn't cause mental illnesses such as depressive disorders or anxiety disorders it can lead to mental illnesses in people predisposed to them, particularly if left untreated
• A landmark 20 year study, conducted by the University of London, concluded that unmanaged reactions to stress were a more dangerous risk factor for cancer and heart disease than either cigarette smoking or high cholesterol foods