Currently, stress is considered as mental fatigue caused by performance and demands greater than what we can bear.
It usually causes various pathologies, both physical and mental. From Psychology and Mind We want to address the different types of stress and the causal agents that cause it.
Types of stress, their characteristics and effects
Stress is a reaction that can cause serious health problems if not managed well. although in itself it is not a problem of either physical health or mental health.
We must keep in mind that although it always generates a certain degree of discomfort, the fact that we can become stressed It is part of a very useful survival mechanism ; so useful that it is present in practically all animals with a relatively complex nervous system. And this type of adaptations allow us to be more prepared for the dangers of the environment; to be more sensitive to stimuli, to have more tense muscles and ready to make efforts quickly, etc. Now, it does not always help us, and sometimes it is involved in the development of certain disorders, normally characterized by a predisposition to be too “activated” in the face of dangers that are not real, or that have been exaggerated by our perception of things.
Various chronic conditions, psychosomatic and mental health disorders (heart problems, anxiety, depression, etc.) have been shown to be closely related to stress. Although the term stress seems very modern, the etymological origin of the word is very ancient.
History of the concept
In the Middle Ages it was already used to describe an endless number of negative experiences. But it was in the 18th century that the concept spread among engineers and physicists with the aim of describing certain characteristics of solid bodies. This characteristic refers to the internal force present in a specific area on which an external force acts that can alter that solid state, a definition that a priori has nothing to do with the current concept of stress.
In the 1920s, the renowned doctor Hans Seyle introduced the term into health sciences to refer to a global response of our body to a situation that causes us distress.
But stress does not always have to be something harmful, since there is positive stress, which is that which helps us face a task with all our strength (an adaptive stress, very present in animals, including humans). However, when that emotion exhausts us, apart from having notable psychological and physical consequences, does not help us face that stressful task.
The stages of stress
In 1956, Seyle theorized that The stress response consists of three distinct phases :
1. Reaction alarm : Starts right after the threat is detected. In this phase some symptoms appear such as low body temperature or an increase in heart rate.
2. Resistance : The organism adapts to the situation but activation continues, although to a lesser extent compared to the previous stage. If the stressful situation continues over time, activation ends up succumbing because resources are consumed at a faster rate than they are generated.
3. Exhaustion : The body ends up exhausting resources and gradually loses the adaptive capacity of the previous phase.
Types of stress
There are different types of stress classified based on certain criteria. We are going to explain the types of stress based on their usefulness, their maintenance and duration.
1. Types of stress based on its sign
1.1. positive stress
Contrary to what people believe, stress does not always harm the person who suffers from it. This type of stress arises when the person is under pressure, but unconsciously interprets that the effects of the situation can give them some benefit.
This stress makes the affected person motivated and has much more energy. a good example would be a sports competition where participants must have a vitality point in order to emerge victorious. This stress is associated with positive emotions, such as happiness.
When we suffer from distress We anticipate a negative situation believing that something is going to go wrong which generates anxiety that completely paralyzes us.
Negative stress unbalances us and neutralizes the resources that in normal situations we would have at our disposal, which ends up generating sadness, anger, etc.
2. Types of stress based on its duration
2.1. acute stress
It is the stress that most people experience and It is caused by the demands that we impose on ourselves or others. These demands are fueled with respect to the recent past, or in anticipation of the near future. In small doses it can be positive but in higher doses it can end up exhausting us, with severe consequences on our mental and physical health.
Luckily this type of stress does not last long so it does not leave any consequences, apart from being easily cured. The main signs of acute stress are:
1. Muscle pain : Headaches, back pain and contractures among other conditions usually appear.
2. Negative emotions : Depression, anxiety, fear, frustration, etc.
3. Gastric problems : Stress can cause a wide swing in stomach symptoms; constipation, heartburn, diarrhea, abdominal pain, etc.
4. Overexcitation of the nervous system : Causes symptoms such as increased blood pressure, tachycardia, palpitations, nausea, excessive sweating, and migraine attacks.
2.2. Episodic acute stress
It is also one of the types of stress most treated in psychological consultations. It appears in people with unrealistic demands, both their own and those coming from society.
They are people who appear irritated and belligerent, in addition to having permanent anxiety because they cannot control all the variables that are required of them. Another symptom of people who suffer from episodic acute stress is that they are always worried about the future. Because they appear hostile, they are difficult to treat unless they go to a specialist and receive treatment.
It is the stress that appears in prisons, wars or in situations of extreme poverty, situations in which one must be continually on alert. This kind of stress can also come from trauma experienced in childhood. By causing great hopelessness, it can modify the beliefs and scale of values ​​of the individual who suffers from it.
Without a doubt, this type of stress is the most serious, with severe destructive results for the psychological health of the person who suffers from it. The people who suffer from it daily They present mental and physical wear and tear that can leave consequences throughout life. The person cannot change the stressful situation, but neither can he escape, he simply cannot do anything.
The person who has this type of stress is often not aware of it, because he has been suffering from this suffering for so long that he has become accustomed to it. They may even like it since it is the only thing they have known and they do not know or cannot cope with the situation in any other way. Because of this, it is normal for them to reject the possibility of treatment because they feel so identified with the stress that They believe that it is already part of them.
Stress risk factors
They are classified as psychological causes or environmental causes. Although, in reality, stress usually arises from both factors at the same time, combined to a greater or lesser degree.
Psychological or internal agents
Environmental or external agents
In conclusion…
The appearance of stress can lead to serious problems in the future if it is not combated properly. therefore it is necessary to seek treatment and learn practical tools to deal with it. Going to a clinical psychologist can be key to learning to manage negative emotions and sensations associated with stress.
