Headaches, anxiety, tension, and irritation. No matter what your response to stress is, it is something that we all experience on a daily basis. Especially, now that the country is facing the biggest pandemic our generation has seen. Stress is a normal part of our lives and it actually can be beneficial in the right amounts. However, it can also be overwhelming and easily become a major detriment. To learn how to de-stress and avoid it in the future, you first need to understand the different types of stress.

What are the Different Types of Stress?

“Stress” is something we hear about often but rarely give considerable thought to. We experience a variety of “stressors” on a daily basis but everyone reacts to them differently. Work, financial situations, romantic relationships, and a myriad of other things can cause us stress. In fact, what causes you minor stress may possibly be overwhelming for someone else. This can make dealing with stress in a uniform way difficult. The main types of stress include:

Acute stress
Episodic acute stress
Chronic stress

Each of theses types of stress is different, not necessarily in what triggers it, but in how they affect the individual.

Acute Stress

Acute stress is typically a fleeting stressor that does not often last very long term. This is the type of stress that can come from a recent argument, pending work deadline, or small inconvenience to your day. After a while, or upon dealing with the stressor, the stress goes away but is often very inconvenient until it is taken care of.

Episodic Acute Stress

Episodic acute stress is very similar to acute stress but differs in its extended length or common reoccurrence. Often, this type of stress stems from mental health issues and requires therapeutic intervention to effectively control.

Chronic Stress

Chronic stress is incredibly detrimental and can severely cripple your physical and mental health. Living in a situation which causes chronic stress is unfortunately too common and requires immediate action. Not all can be instantly fixed but a solution is still necessary. Abusive relationships, unemployment, toxic work environments, addiction, or many other personal issues can lead to chronic stress. Often, these scenarios start out good and worsen over time. Before the individual is aware, they are nearly drowning in the stress of their environment.
Dealing with Different Types of Stress

When it comes to dealing with the different types of stress, the solutions can be as varied as the causes of the stress itself. For issues with chronic stress, the best solution is always to put as much physical, mental, and emotional distance between yourself and the situation as possible. Then, seek professional help in dealing with any traumatic issues it may have caused.

For episodic acute stress, as stated above, the best form of help is getting therapy with a trusted and trained professional. When the root cause of your stress is an underlying psychological issue, you can not fully address the stress without focusing on the mental health aspect.

Dealing with acute stress can be fairly simple but is different for each individual and based on the situation. Exercise can be a great way to deal with many forms of stress especially ones related to aggression or excess energy. If exercise isn’t for them, then methods such as meditation or reading can help distract your mind and require less energy. Often, a moment of peace and relaxation is enough to remove much of your issues of acute stress.

Get the Best of All the Different Types of Stress

Don’t let stress get the best of you. Find ways that work for you to beat stress and keep these tips in your pocket for the next time you feel the tension rising. Whether it’s walking away from a situation or counting to ten, you can always find small ways to help keep you calm and centered, whether at work or in your personal life.

What You Don’t Know About Stress Can Kill You