Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSignsCausesRisk FactorsHealth ConsequencesTreatmentWhen to Seek HelpNext in Stress GuideHow to Manage Stress: Top Strategies for Stress Relief
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Signs
Causes
Risk Factors
Health Consequences
Treatment
When to Seek Help
Next in Stress Guide
Stress is your body’snatural responseto physical and psychological challenges or threats. During moments of stress, the body releases two hormones calledepinephrine(adrenaline) andcortisolthat trigger a chain of events to help you better cope with stressful situations.
Stress can be a positive thing, helping you overcome obstacles and push yourself to new levels of personal growth.
But when stress is persistent, it can be damaging to your health, reducing your immune response, increasing your risk of certain infections, raising your blood pressure and risk of heart disease, and sapping your concentration, energy levels, and overall sense of well-being.
The article describes the different types of stress and how they impact you physically and emotionally. It also looks at some of the complications of stress and ways to reduce stress if it is affecting your health and quality of life.
Types of Stress
Stress can be short-lasting, long-lasting, or come and go. While stress is often considered “bad” and something you need to manage, it can be beneficial in certain situations.
Stress can be broadly described as:
Signs of Stress
Common signs of stress include:
Once the threat is gone, the body will release other hormones, such asoxytocin, to bring epinephrine and cortisol back in check.
Symptoms of Too Much Stress
If stress is chronic, it can lead to a broader range of potentially disruptive symptoms. This is because the overload of cortisol and epinephrine can not only amplify the physiological symptoms of stress but also start to affect the brain, triggering psychological symptoms.
Symptoms of chronic stress may include:
Many of these symptoms can also occur when acute stress is severe, such as during apanic attack. Sometimes, the symptoms come on so quickly and profoundly that it may seem like you’re having aheart attack.
It is also possible to get a"stress rash"when the body is spontaneously flooded with cortisol and epinephrine. This can trigger an inflammatory reaction and the release of a chemical calledhistaminethat instigates allergic reactions, In some people with extreme stress, this can lead to itching and hives (urticaria).
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Causes of Stress
The body’s stress response system is called thehypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis). When faced with a stressor (a situation that causes stress), a part of the brain called thehypothalamussends a chemical message to thepituitary glandwhich, in turn, instructs theadrenal glandsto start secreting cortisol and epinephrine.
There are two broad categories of stressors: physiological stressors and psychological stressors.
Physiological and psychological stressors can also overlap. For instance, a physiological stressor such as a chronic illness can cause psychological stress, further amplifying symptoms.
Examples of stressors include;
Physiological StressorsExtreme temperaturesStrenuous physical activityInjury or painChronic illnessAcute infectionsPregnancySurgeryObesityExhaustionPsychological StressorsBeing overworkedA noisy or chaotic environmentRelationship problemsFinancial problemsTrouble at work or schoolLonelinessLoss and griefWorry about the futureHeavy traffic
Physiological StressorsExtreme temperaturesStrenuous physical activityInjury or painChronic illnessAcute infectionsPregnancySurgeryObesityExhaustion
Extreme temperatures
Strenuous physical activity
Injury or pain
Chronic illness
Acute infections
Pregnancy
Surgery
Obesity
Exhaustion
Psychological StressorsBeing overworkedA noisy or chaotic environmentRelationship problemsFinancial problemsTrouble at work or schoolLonelinessLoss and griefWorry about the futureHeavy traffic
Being overworked
A noisy or chaotic environment
Relationship problems
Financial problems
Trouble at work or school
Loneliness
Loss and grief
Worry about the future
Heavy traffic
We are all wired to feel stress, but certain factors can predispose you to unhealthy levels of stress, including:
The Power of Emotions in Broken Heart Syndrome
Related Conditions and Complications
Chronic stress can also affect your sense of well-being, which also has health consequences.
Over time, uncontrolled stress can contribute to:
Is Stress a Mental Illness?Stress is not a mental illness, but it can contribute to mental illness. Persistently high levels of cortisone—referred to ashyperadrenocorticism—have been independently linked to an increased risk of anxiety disorders,bipolar disorder, andmajor depressive disorder (MDD).
Is Stress a Mental Illness?
Stress is not a mental illness, but it can contribute to mental illness. Persistently high levels of cortisone—referred to ashyperadrenocorticism—have been independently linked to an increased risk of anxiety disorders,bipolar disorder, andmajor depressive disorder (MDD).
Treatments and Ways to Cope With Stress
Managing stress is key to avoiding long-term health problems. Depending on your levels of stress and general coping skills, you may be able to manage on your own. In other instances, you may benefit from working with a healthcare provider or mental health specialist.
Lifestyle
Mind-Body Therapies
Some effective mind-body therapies for stress include:
Psychotherapy
Psychotherapy(talk therapy) involves working with a therapist who can help you identify your sources of stress so you can better manage them. Although therapy is typically done in person, you can also have online sessions with a therapist who can see you regularly.
Different approaches may help depending on the source of your stress:
Prescription Medications
Sometimes medications are needed to help you through a stressful time. In such cases, you would need to get a prescription from your healthcare provider or apsychiatrist(rather than a therapist who cannot prescribe medications).
Some medications commonly prescribed for stress and anxiety include:
When to Contact a Healthcare Provider
It can be easy to miss the signs of stress, particularly if you live a hectic lifestyle or are managing a heavy workload at work. Even so, it’s important to notice the signs and take appropriate action if stress is interfering with your relationships, health, quality of life, and ability to function normally.
It may be time to see if a therapist or healthcare provider if:
Summary
Stress is a natural response to physiological or psychological threats or challenges. Stress can be beneficial, helping push you to achieve more, but it can affect your health if it is extreme or chronic. Left untreated, chronic stress can contribute to heart disease, mood disorders, stomach ulcers, and diabetes.
The best way to manage stress is to live a healthy, balanced lifestyle and practice relaxation techniques like yoga, meditation, or deep breathing exercises. Psychotherapy and prescription medications (like antidepressants) can help if self-help treatments are not enough.
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14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centre for Studies of Human Stress.Biology of stress.Romano A, Tempesta B, Di Bonaventura MVM, Gaetani S.From autism to eating disorders and more: the role of oxytocin in neuropsychiatric disorders.Front Neurosci.2015;9:497. doi:10.3389/fnins.2015.00497Yarikbeygi H, Panahi Y, Sahreai H, Johnston TP, Sahebkar A.The impact of stress on body function: a review.EXCLI J.2017;16:1057–1072. doi:10.17179/excli2017-480National Institute of Mental Health.Panic disorder: when fear overwhelms.Konstantinou GN, Konstantinou GN.Psychological stress and chronic urticaria: a neuro-immuno-cutaneous crosstalk. A systematic review of the existing evidence.Clin Therapeutics. 2020;42(5):771-782. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2020.03.010Oyola MG, Handa RJ.Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axes: sex differences in regulation of stress responsivity.Stress. 2017;20(5):476-494. doi:10.1080/10253890.2017.1369523James KA, Stromin JI, Steenkamp N, Combrinck MI.Understanding the relationships between physiological and psychosocial stress, cortisol and cognition.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne).2023;14:1085950. doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1085950American Psychological Association.Stress in America: our health at risk.Mariotta A.The effects of chronic stress on health: new insights into the molecular mechanisms of brain–body communication.Future Sci OA.2015 Nov;1(3):FSO23. doi:10.4155/fso.15.21Lin TY, Hanna J, Ishak WW.Psychiatric symptoms in Cushing’s syndrome: a systematic review.Innov Clin Neurosci.2020 Jan 1;17(1-3):30–35.Ramirez-Garcia MP, Gagnon MP, Colson S, Cote J, Flores-Aranda J, Dupont M.Mind-body practices for people living with HIV: a systematic scoping review.BMC Complement Altern Med.2019;19:25. doi:10.1186/s12906-019-2502-zAmerican Psychological Association.Psychotherapy.National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.National Institute of Mental Health.I’m so stressed out! Fact sheet.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centre for Studies of Human Stress.Biology of stress.Romano A, Tempesta B, Di Bonaventura MVM, Gaetani S.From autism to eating disorders and more: the role of oxytocin in neuropsychiatric disorders.Front Neurosci.2015;9:497. doi:10.3389/fnins.2015.00497Yarikbeygi H, Panahi Y, Sahreai H, Johnston TP, Sahebkar A.The impact of stress on body function: a review.EXCLI J.2017;16:1057–1072. doi:10.17179/excli2017-480National Institute of Mental Health.Panic disorder: when fear overwhelms.Konstantinou GN, Konstantinou GN.Psychological stress and chronic urticaria: a neuro-immuno-cutaneous crosstalk. A systematic review of the existing evidence.Clin Therapeutics. 2020;42(5):771-782. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2020.03.010Oyola MG, Handa RJ.Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axes: sex differences in regulation of stress responsivity.Stress. 2017;20(5):476-494. doi:10.1080/10253890.2017.1369523James KA, Stromin JI, Steenkamp N, Combrinck MI.Understanding the relationships between physiological and psychosocial stress, cortisol and cognition.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne).2023;14:1085950. doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1085950American Psychological Association.Stress in America: our health at risk.Mariotta A.The effects of chronic stress on health: new insights into the molecular mechanisms of brain–body communication.Future Sci OA.2015 Nov;1(3):FSO23. doi:10.4155/fso.15.21Lin TY, Hanna J, Ishak WW.Psychiatric symptoms in Cushing’s syndrome: a systematic review.Innov Clin Neurosci.2020 Jan 1;17(1-3):30–35.Ramirez-Garcia MP, Gagnon MP, Colson S, Cote J, Flores-Aranda J, Dupont M.Mind-body practices for people living with HIV: a systematic scoping review.BMC Complement Altern Med.2019;19:25. doi:10.1186/s12906-019-2502-zAmerican Psychological Association.Psychotherapy.National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.National Institute of Mental Health.I’m so stressed out! Fact sheet.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centre for Studies of Human Stress.Biology of stress.Romano A, Tempesta B, Di Bonaventura MVM, Gaetani S.From autism to eating disorders and more: the role of oxytocin in neuropsychiatric disorders.Front Neurosci.2015;9:497. doi:10.3389/fnins.2015.00497Yarikbeygi H, Panahi Y, Sahreai H, Johnston TP, Sahebkar A.The impact of stress on body function: a review.EXCLI J.2017;16:1057–1072. doi:10.17179/excli2017-480National Institute of Mental Health.Panic disorder: when fear overwhelms.Konstantinou GN, Konstantinou GN.Psychological stress and chronic urticaria: a neuro-immuno-cutaneous crosstalk. A systematic review of the existing evidence.Clin Therapeutics. 2020;42(5):771-782. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2020.03.010Oyola MG, Handa RJ.Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axes: sex differences in regulation of stress responsivity.Stress. 2017;20(5):476-494. doi:10.1080/10253890.2017.1369523James KA, Stromin JI, Steenkamp N, Combrinck MI.Understanding the relationships between physiological and psychosocial stress, cortisol and cognition.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne).2023;14:1085950. doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1085950American Psychological Association.Stress in America: our health at risk.Mariotta A.The effects of chronic stress on health: new insights into the molecular mechanisms of brain–body communication.Future Sci OA.2015 Nov;1(3):FSO23. doi:10.4155/fso.15.21Lin TY, Hanna J, Ishak WW.Psychiatric symptoms in Cushing’s syndrome: a systematic review.Innov Clin Neurosci.2020 Jan 1;17(1-3):30–35.Ramirez-Garcia MP, Gagnon MP, Colson S, Cote J, Flores-Aranda J, Dupont M.Mind-body practices for people living with HIV: a systematic scoping review.BMC Complement Altern Med.2019;19:25. doi:10.1186/s12906-019-2502-zAmerican Psychological Association.Psychotherapy.National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.National Institute of Mental Health.I’m so stressed out! Fact sheet.
Centre for Studies of Human Stress.Biology of stress.
Romano A, Tempesta B, Di Bonaventura MVM, Gaetani S.From autism to eating disorders and more: the role of oxytocin in neuropsychiatric disorders.Front Neurosci.2015;9:497. doi:10.3389/fnins.2015.00497
Yarikbeygi H, Panahi Y, Sahreai H, Johnston TP, Sahebkar A.The impact of stress on body function: a review.EXCLI J.2017;16:1057–1072. doi:10.17179/excli2017-480
National Institute of Mental Health.Panic disorder: when fear overwhelms.
Konstantinou GN, Konstantinou GN.Psychological stress and chronic urticaria: a neuro-immuno-cutaneous crosstalk. A systematic review of the existing evidence.Clin Therapeutics. 2020;42(5):771-782. doi:10.1016/j.clinthera.2020.03.010
Oyola MG, Handa RJ.Hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axes: sex differences in regulation of stress responsivity.Stress. 2017;20(5):476-494. doi:10.1080/10253890.2017.1369523
James KA, Stromin JI, Steenkamp N, Combrinck MI.Understanding the relationships between physiological and psychosocial stress, cortisol and cognition.Front Endocrinol (Lausanne).2023;14:1085950. doi:10.3389/fendo.2023.1085950
American Psychological Association.Stress in America: our health at risk.
Mariotta A.The effects of chronic stress on health: new insights into the molecular mechanisms of brain–body communication.Future Sci OA.2015 Nov;1(3):FSO23. doi:10.4155/fso.15.21
Lin TY, Hanna J, Ishak WW.Psychiatric symptoms in Cushing’s syndrome: a systematic review.Innov Clin Neurosci.2020 Jan 1;17(1-3):30–35.
Ramirez-Garcia MP, Gagnon MP, Colson S, Cote J, Flores-Aranda J, Dupont M.Mind-body practices for people living with HIV: a systematic scoping review.BMC Complement Altern Med.2019;19:25. doi:10.1186/s12906-019-2502-z
American Psychological Association.Psychotherapy.
National Institute of Mental Health.Anxiety disorders.
National Institute of Mental Health.I’m so stressed out! Fact sheet.
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