Life under tension rarely begins in a single day. At first it is just a packed schedule, then it becomes a background that a person stops noticing: muscle tension, disrupted sleep, irritation over trifles. Below is what chronic stress looks like from the side of the body and from the side of the emotions, and the signs that call for professional help.
What chronic stress is and how it differs from ordinary stress
Stress is the brain's and body's response to a load or a demand. At such a moment hormones are released that make a person focused: blood pressure rises, the pulse quickens, blood glucose levels increase. This reaction is called "fight or flight."
Short-term stress is not always harmful. Slamming on the brakes in front of a car that darts out, or a deadline after which the tension subsides, are examples of when the reaction helps. The difference lies in duration: chronic stress drags on for weeks, months, and longer, and the body behaves all this time as if the threat has never gone away.
The causes are usually divided into three groups: constant pressure of daily life — work, study, family needs, money; abrupt changes — divorce, illness, job loss; traumatic events after which post-traumatic stress disorder may develop.
Physical symptoms of chronic stress
The body speaks first. Among the signs are headaches and dizziness, muscle tension and pain, stomach and digestive problems, chest pain and a rapid heartbeat, difficulties in the sexual sphere.
To this are added sleep and immunity: a person sleeps too little or too much and catches colds more often than usual because the body's resistance declines. Some of these sensations are easy to attribute to fatigue or the weather, and then the cause goes unnoticed.
Emotional and behavioral signs of stress
A fog appears in the head: it is hard to concentrate, make a decision, hold trifles in memory. Anxiety spins in circles, mood swings from despondency to anger.
From the outside, the changes are visible earlier than from within. Loved ones notice that the person has become sharp, declines meetings, drinks or smokes more. Behavioral changes under stress are usually as follows:
- irritability and sharpness in response to trifles;
- sleep that has become noticeably longer or shorter than usual;
- eating more or less than before;
- avoiding certain places and people;
- more alcohol or cigarettes than before.
People get used to such a state and stop considering it a problem — it is simply that "the character has spoiled" or "there is no time."
Severe stress and nervous overstrain: how they manifest
When tension persists for a long time, the symptoms of stress stop being episodes and become a constant background.
A distinction is made between eustress (from Greek εὖ — "good") and distress (from Greek δυσ — "loss"). Hans Selye described the general adaptation syndrome and identified three stages in it: the alarm reaction, or mobilization of adaptive capacities, the stage of resistance, and the stage of exhaustion.
Why prolonged stress is dangerous for health
Constant tension is a load on the body's systems, and it contributes to the development of serious conditions: depression, anxiety disorders, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes. One can get used to the symptoms of stress and not notice that a problem exists.
When stress symptoms require seeing a specialist
The guideline doctors cite: severe symptoms persist for two weeks or longer. Among them are sleep problems, changes in eating with unwanted weight change, difficulty getting out of bed because of mood, loss of interest in what once brought joy, inability to do ordinary daily tasks.
One can also seek help in other cases: when it is hard for a person to cope, when their own attempts do not help, when they would like a referral to a specialist, and also if stress creates a feeling that the person cannot cope, or if they have begun to use alcohol or drugs more often.
Chronic stress in itself is not a reason to call an ambulance. 103 or 112 are needed if thoughts of suicide appear, if the person or someone else needs urgent help, or if the person has seriously harmed themselves — for example, an overdose.
This text is for reference: it helps to notice the signs and to name one's condition in words, but it does not replace a doctor's consultation.
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This content is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Medical disclaimer