Stress, In general, it is an response at the physiological level that is activated when the body perceives certain situations as threatening or challenging. “It is characterized by being a reaction when we have irrational beliefs in which we perceive events as catastrophic or uncontrollable, which triggers dysfunctional emotions and behaviors,” explains María Raquel Quiñonez, a clinical psychologist, specialist in anxiety issues.
When stress endures more than normal and achieves a much more prolonged and drastic impact on people, it becomes Chronic stress Quiñónez says that stress is a temporary and normal reaction that we have before an event or situation that generates a challenge, but after it is resolved, it disappears. Therefore, it has no serious long -term consequences, since after stress is eliminated, the body and mind return to their usual state.
However, when it comes to chronic stress, its duration is prolonged, it persists for weeks, months or even years. “It does not disappear after the event or challenge that is stressing us. If we do not handle it in the proper way, it can have a long -term negative impact on our physical, emotional and mental health,” warns the specialist.
In day to day it also has repercussions since it makes it difficult for people to relax and disconnect from those issues are worrying them. This does not allow to deal with everyday problems and situations in a healthy way.
This type of stress can affect people of all ages, but their impact and prevalence vary depending on age factors, circumstances and lifestyle. Young and middle -aged adults may experience more chronic stress if they experience a lot of pressure at a family, social and labor level. Teenagers may also be more likely to feel it, because they cross changes at the hormonal level and social pressure. Older adults can also have more health, economic problems and are usually more isolated.
Consequences of stress
The consequences of stress They can be physical, emotional and social. Quiñonez explains it in this way:
Physical impact: Stress can increase blood pressure and heart rate, as well as cortisol and adrenaline levels, which can generate muscle tension and digestive problems. It can also impact the immune system, which can make us more vulnerable to getting sick. The dream is also affected, we can have more difficulty to reconcile the dream and therefore feel more tired.
EMOTIONAL IMPACT: It can cause anxiety because we perceive threats or feel that we cannot handle certain situations we are living. We can also experience depression, since chronic stress can lead us to feel hopeless or that we cannot handle whatever is happening to us. We can feel irritated, angry or frustrated by the stress we are feeling.
Social impact: People who experience a lot of stress can have more difficulties in their interpersonal relationships, since they feel irritated, lack patience or demand a lot to others. They can also be isolated more, since they feel that they are not being able to meet social expectations. For example, obtain validation of others. This leads to avoid relating to others, which would generate them to feel more alone and sad.
How to combat stress
The first step is to identify the causes of stress, as are the thoughts that come with it. It is important to work to modify destructive thoughts, for more propositive thoughts. For example, not seeing situations as impossible to handle but as challenges to face them step by step.
“Learn to accept what you cannot change and practice relaxation techniques such as mindfulness, meditation and deep breaths. And if you feel that this is already affecting much all areas of your life, seek professional help,” says Quiñonez.
Finding professional help in these cases is important to have an adequate diagnosis of in a safe space in which the emotions and difficulties that are being lived are validated, providing emotional support.
It is also important to rule out medical conditions and thus treat the causes that are activating stress, learn strategies to face them in a healthier way. A professional can help develop skills for the management of anxiety and depression, reduce emotional burden and provide an accompaniment to improve comprehensive well -being. All this can help prevent consequences on mental, physical and emotional health in the long term.