The Three Types of Stress

Stress is a normal part of life. And a little bit of stress can actually be a good thing. For instance, when we lift weights, we are stressing our muscles, helping them to become bigger and stronger. Similarly, little bits of mental stress can help us become more skilled and resilient.

But too much of any type of stress can wreak havoc on our bodies and overall health. The following are the three main types of stress according to the American Psychological Association:

Acute Stress

Acute stress occurs suddenly and out of the blue. Your boss may throw you a big project to finish under a tight deadline. Or you just barely missed a bad car accident. For a short period of time you will experience an elevated heart rate and blood pressure and perhaps a migraine.

Episodic Acute Stress

These are like mini-crises that happen to some people on a fairly regular basis. Some people take on too much responsibility or are somehow overburdened in their life, and so they live in a constant state of tension.

Chronic Stress

Chronic stress is the result of serious life problems that wear us down over months and years. There is really no let up with this type of stress. Chronic stress has been linked to heart disease and stroke.

Therapy to Help Beat the Effects of Stress

Seeing a therapist won’t magically make you immune from stressful events in your life. But regularly talking and looking at patterns in your life can help your body deal with the effects of stress on your body. 

If you’d like a free consultation, please give us a call or stop by our office.