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Degrees of Stress and Their Symptoms

Degrees of Stress

Acute Stress

The most common occurrence, precipitated by events in the immediate or near future. Examples: tough homework assignment, upcoming exam, work stress, difficulty with money problems, mental stress confrontation with someone intimidating. Emotional reactions can be physical tension, anxiety, irritability or anger.

Episodic Acute Stress

Manifests as a state of over-arousal, tension and stress anxiety where the individual feels in perpetual crisis, chaotic, or

out of control. This type is found in people who:

• Can’t get organized; continually get caught running late; feel they’re under pressure to catch up.

• Feel short-tempered, anxious, tense; have a lot of nervous energy.

• Worry a lot; focus on negative outcomes; anticipate crisis situations.

Examples: a mom struggling to take care of her kids, workers trying to satisfy a demanding boss, school kids facing tough peer-pressure.

Also “Type A” personalities who constantly over-evaluate their performance; overload their schedules and have “too many irons in the fire;” have excessive competitive drive; are impatient.
Examples: students trying to get straight “A”s, workers trying to win a job promotion, salesmen struggling to meet high quotas.

Chronic Stress

A continual, unrelenting, long-term, stress related syndrome for indefinite periods of time due to pressures such as work stress (feeling trapped in a distasteful job), on-going unemployment, continuous financial problems, domestic discord, caring for a chronically ill person, etc. that leads to serious harm to the body. This type of stress often goes on so long, it is no longer recognized as something abnormal – it becomes viewed as part of living.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

This begins in the aftermath of a traumatic event (auto accident, being the victim of a violent crime, financial problems, loss of home, bitter loss of long-term relationship) resulting in very high levels of stress anxiety (agitation, never feeling safe, difficulty trusting others, unfocused fear about the future).

Symptoms

Physical Stress Symptoms:

Dizziness, fatigue, general aches and pains, tension headaches (excessive stress hormones can also cause blood vessels to dilate and trigger a migraine), elevated blood pressure, tense muscles, nervous ticks and trembling, “butterflies” in stomach, muscle spasms, clenching the jaw, grinding teeth, TMJ problems, neck pain, tension in throat, difficulty swallowing, sweaty palms, insomnia/difficulty falling asleep/fatigue when rising, stomach cramps, indigestion, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), periods of pounding, racing heart, reduced sex drive and/or shortness of breath, suppressed immune system resulting in more colds, flu, infections, etc.

Emotional Stress Symptoms:

Anger/irritability/lack of patience, anxiety/worry/nervousness, crying/depression, mood swings, feelings of powerlessness/loneliness, overwhelming urge to escape, blaming others for one’s difficulties.

Mental Stress Symptoms:

Irritability, racing thoughts (“the wheels” that won’t stop turning), pessimistic view of situations, resentment, depression or sadness, anxiety, anger, insecurity, difficulty concentrating, diminished memory capacity/being forgetful.  

Behavorial Stress Symptoms:

Manifests as decreased productivity, conflict with co-workers or employers, overreactions, sporadic job changes, overuse of drugs and alcohol, impulsive actions, loss of self-esteem.

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Sources: Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org); Stress and the General Adaptation Syndrome, Selye H. British Medical Journal 1: 1383–1392, 1950; Medline Dictionary (http://medlineplus.gov)

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