Stress Comes In Many Forms

Anyone who is alive has experienced stress at some point in life. For most people, this is just a fact of daily living. Stress, however, does have several different forms. Sometimes it is a good thing. In other cases, it can cause long-term psychological and even physical damage.

The American Psychological Association recognized three main types of stress that people commonly experience. Considering the implications involved in some forms of this condition - heart problems, depression, fatigue - it is important to recognize the signs and symptoms.

Acute

This is a very common form of the condition. It tends to arise rather quickly in relation to past, present or future pressures. This kind of stress can be fantastically exhilarating for people, such as a roller coaster ride that has long been anticipated. It can also present as a reaction to a bad situation, such as an accident. It is a temporary form of tension that tends to go away rather quickly.

If this form of tension is a reaction to something bad, it can present with some physical symptoms. These might include stomach upset, headaches and loss of appetite.

Although the acute brand of tension can hit like a semi-truck, it generally has no long-term impacts. Since it is generally resolved fairly quickly, it is considered a normal reaction to a very exciting experience or a very bad day.

Acute Episodic

This type of stress can be a little more serious. It tends to present in people who live in a state of disorganization. When people are constantly late, constantly worried and have too many things that are going on at once, this type of tension can hit on a frequent basis. This tends to be the case with people who are driven and have Type A personalities. It can also strike chronic worriers.

The symptoms of episodic tension are the same as regular acute tension, but they can have long-term impacts. People who suffer from frequent episodes of acute tension are more subject to heart disease, high blood pressure, tension headaches and more.

Chronic

This is the kind of stress that most people deal with on a daily basis. It can stem from financial situations, poor relationships, trauma and even lousy working conditions. While its effects are often easy to ignore at first, it can lead to some serious outcomes. This type of stress is associated with heart attacks, outbursts of violence, stroke and even suicide.

Stress can be a normal bodily reaction to a scary or even fun and exhilarating situation. It can also be a long-term killer. Keeping stress under control and limiting it where it can be can help people enjoy life to the fullest and avoid some serious medical conditions down the road.

Removing stress from life entirely is not possible and it isn't even a terribly healthy idea. Stress sometimes is a very natural and even "good" reaction to certain situations. When stress dominates a life, however, and presents itself on a chronic basis, the need to locate its causes and try to eliminate some of them is rather important. Unfortunately, stress causes are practically infinite and what impacts one person negatively might not another.

So, how does a person identify the stress causes in their own life? It might take sitting down with a pen and paper and brainstorming. Think of all the little things that cause angst, worry, pressure and tension. List out the big things that do, too. The bad stress causes are anything that make a person anxious, worrisome or even uncomfortable, sad or depressed.

While the little causes of stress might not seem like a big deal, they can wear on a person over time. Since these are often the easiest to eliminate or lessen, it is worth looking closely at them. They include:

• Over scheduling. When a person has to run from one thing to the next day in and day out without a break, it can wear quickly. Learning time management skills, enlisting help or simply saying no can help lessen the impact of this kind of stress.

• Disorganization. Believe it or not, piles of work that are unfinished, a cluttered home and not having places for the important things, such as car keys, can lead to stress. Anyone who has ever been late to work in the morning because car keys were lost can attest to this one. Getting organized, working through clutter and even keeping unfinished work out of sight when it is time to relax can all help.

• Finances. For some people this constitutes one of the biggest stress causes, but in the big picture it generally is a small problem. If finances are out of control, try setting a budget, looking into ways to pay down debt or even other options to help streamline life and payment pressures.

• Traffic. Sitting in traffic day in and day out, always running late and feeling helpless can create stress. To battle this cause, try leaving earlier, taking a different route or simply acquiesce and listen to relaxing music in the car. Make the drive enjoyable and the stress shouldn't mount so much.

The small problems are generally easier to tackle and manage to the benefit of a person. The big causes of stress, unfortunately, can be a little more difficult to handle. They, however, can have a big impact over time. Some of the most common large stressors in life include:

• Bad relationships. Dysfunctional relationships can create a great deal of stress. If getting out isn't an option, consider counseling to make things go more smoothly.

• Poor working conditions. People who are trapped in jobs they hate, often feel a lot of stress. Getting out isn't always easy, but if it's possible, looking for another job can help lessen the impacts.

• Medical conditions. Personal medical conditions or those of loved ones can cause stress. While solving this problem is not always possible, working with medical professionals and learning to accept what cannot be changed can help lessen the impacts of stress here.

Stress causes tend to be very personal. What bothers one person and makes them anxious or stressed out doesn't always impact the next. Locating the sources of negative stress in one's life and working to lessen them can protect health and greatly improve peace of mind.


Anxiety Is More Prevalent Than Many Realize

Just about everyone suffers from a bought of anxiety at some point in life. Whether it's fear of an upcoming final exam or concern that a loved one might be injured, most people have experienced the gripping fear that can consume thoughts and actions. While this type of passing anxiety is generally quite justified and normal, millions deal with the sensation on virtually a daily basis.

According to the Anxiety Disorders Association of America, this condition is the most common mental illness in America. Some 40 million people in America, age 18 or older, suffer from one form of anxiety disorder or another. The condition is believed to cost more than $42 billion a year, or roughly a third of the total expenditures on mental health in the country a year. The actual illnesses that fall under the anxiety grouping include such things as generalized anxiety, panic disorder, post traumatic stress and a host of others. Dealing with the condition often depends a great deal on the exact type of anxiety disorder at hand.

As common as disorders related to anxiety are, they are not well understood. Generalized anxiety disorder, which is one of the most common forms, has a few potential causes, but the exact reason why it appears is not fully understood. At this point, scientists and physicians believe this disorder is caused by genetics, brain chemistry and even environmental factors, such as death of a loved one, stress and even withdrawal from certain addictive substances. If the cause can be isolated, treatment is often able to be a bit more focused. If anxiety is caused by the death of a loved one, for example, working through that issue can often help a person find relief from symptoms.

Living with anxiety is not very pleasant for patients who deal with the condition. In some cases, people's symptoms are so bad they cordon themselves off from life and refuse to do things in fear of panic attacks and other related symptoms.

Treating these disorders is possible with medications, therapy and persistency. Many people also find that self-relaxation techniques can help them stop panic attacks in their tracks. The best course of action often depends on which disorder exactly a person suffers from. Physicians and psychologists will often suggest tailored treatments to meet the needs of an individual patient.

Living live with anxiety disorders is not a fun undertaking. For some 40 million people in the U.S. alone, every day presents with a fear that symptoms will appear and sideline life. Battling through the condition generally involves a long-term approach and a lot of persistence and patience.

 
Anxiety and depression are both very serious mental illnesses all on their own. Unfortunately, they can also go hand-in-hand, making everyday life very difficult for the person who is suffering. Fortunately, if the conditions are recognized and proper help is obtained, they can be overcome successfully.
 
Due to the nature of both anxiety and depression, understanding the signs and symptoms of the two conditions is vital for helping a person regain control of life. While one condition doesn't necessarily cause the other, it is not at all uncommon to see them manifest together. Considering the potential ramifications of both anxiety and depression, early diagnosis and proper treatment is almost always advisable.

 
Anxiety can present itself in a number of different ways. From very particular phobias to generalized anxiety about everyday living, the actual triggers might vary. Some of the symptoms that tend to go across the board, however, include:
 
• Signs of a heart attack. Things like racing heartbeats, palpitations and even chest pains and discomfort can go along with anxiety. People often think they are having an actual heart attack.
• Sweating
• Trouble sleeping
• Irritability
• Impending sense of fear, doom or even worry about imminent death
• Stomach discomforts
 
If anxiety is particularly severe, a person might experience a full-blown panic attack. These episodes are incredibly frightening to the person suffering from them. Inasmuch, many people who suffer from anxiety try to safeguard themselves from the things they see as triggers. Whether this is social situations, heights, public speaking or even being separated from family or leaving the house, the end result is the generally the same - some form of isolation. This tends to be where anxiety and depression can intersect.

Everyone feels blue from time to time, but real depression is a like a black cloud that smothers. The symptoms of this condition, if left unchecked, can lead to suicidal thoughts and even actions. Keeping an eye out for them is imperative when other mental illnesses, such as anxiety, are present. They are:

• Lack of interest in normal activities
• A feeling of sadness that persists for several weeks or longer
• Feelings of guilt, hopelessness
• Thoughts of suicide or death
• Changes in eating habits
• A desire to isolate oneself

Anxiety and depression are both very real, very serious illnesses. Fortunately, both can be treated rather effectively if their signs and symptoms are recognized and acted upon properly. Seeking counseling and even medication therapy can help put a person back on the right path. Trying to work through a combination of anxiety and depression alone generally is not advised.

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