Stress is a natural feeling of inability to cope with certain needs and events. However, stress can be an incurable condition if one does not take steps to control it.
These needs may arise from work, relationships, financial stress, and other circumstances, but anything that poses a real or tangible challenge or threatens a person's well-being can be depressing.
Depression can be a motivator, and it can be important even in survival. The body's fighting or flight mode tells a person when and how to respond to an accident. However, when the body is easily awakened, or there are too many pressures at the same time, it can be detrimental to one's mental and physical health and even dangerous.
Stress is the body's natural defenses against predators and danger. It causes the body to be full of hormones that prepare its systems to avoid or deal with danger. People often refer to this as a form of fighting or flight.
When people are faced with a challenge or threat, they have a partial response. The body makes resources that help people to stay and face the challenge or get to safety as quickly as possible.
The body produces large amounts of the chemicals cortisol, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. This triggers the following immune reactions:
increased blood pressure
high muscle readiness
sweating
caution
All of these improve a person's ability to respond to a potentially dangerous or challenging situation. Norepinephrine and epinephrine also cause rapid heartbeat.
The natural factors that cause this reaction are called stressors. Examples include sounds, aggressive behavior, speeding cars, scary moments in movies, or going out on a first date. Feelings of depression often increase with the amount of stress experienced.
According to the American Psychological Association (APA) annual survey of depression in 2018, the lowest levels of stress in the United States were 4.9 on a scale from 1 to 10.
Physical effects
Depression slows down certain normal bodily functions, such as those performed by the digestive systems and the immune system. The body can then deplete its resources for respiration, blood flow, alertness, and the preparation of muscles for emergency use.
The body changes in the following ways during the stress response:
blood pressure and heart rate rise
breathing is fast
the digestive system slows down
the immune system is weakened
the muscles are strong
sleep deprivation is due to a high level of alertness
How a person reacts to a difficult situation will determine the effects of stress for a lifetime. Some people may experience several pressures in a row or at the same time without this leading to a major stress response. Some may have a stronger response than a single stress.
A person who feels they do not have enough resources to deal with this will likely have a strong reaction that can cause health problems. Stress affects people in different ways.
Other experiences that people often view as positive can lead to stress, such as having a baby, going on vacation, moving to a better home, or getting a promotion.
The reason for this is that they often involve major changes, extra effort, new obligations, and the need to adapt. They also require that a person take unknown steps.
One can look forward to a pay rise after the increase, for example, but wonder if he can handle these additional responsibilities.
Persistent opposition to challenges can have a detrimental effect on health and happiness.
For example, a review of studies conducted in 2018 found a correlation between work-related stress and heart disease. Without this, the authors could not confirm the specific ways in which stress causes heart disease.
Some studies have shown that people who view stress as a negative impact on their health may be at greater risk of developing heart disease than those who do not.
However, a greater awareness of the effects of stress can help one to manage them effectively and to cope better with them.
Types
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) identifies two types of stress: severe and incurable. This requires different levels of management.
NIMH also identifies three examples of types of stress:
common stress, such as child care, schoolwork, or financial obligations
sudden, disturbing changes, such as the death of a family member or the loss of a job
severe depression, which may result from severe trauma as a result of a major accident, assault, natural disaster, or war
Severe depression
This type of stress is short-lived and is usually a common type of stress. Depression often develops when people look at the pressures of recent events or face future challenges.
For example, a person may feel overwhelmed by a recent argument or a deadline. However, the pressure will decrease or disappear once a person has resolved a dispute or meets a deadline.
Heavy pressures are often new and often have a clear and immediate solution. Although there are some very serious problems that people face, there are ways to get out of this situation.
Severe depression does not cause equal and long-term damage, and chronic stress. Short-term side effects include headaches and abdominal pain, as well as a moderate amount of stress
However, recurrent episodes of chronic depression can be chronic and dangerous.
Chronic stress
This type of stress is prolonged and extremely dangerous.
Persistent poverty, a dysfunctional family, or an unhappy marriage are examples of conditions that can cause chronic stress. It happens when a person does not see how to avoid stress and stop looking for solutions. Painful experiences at an early age can also contribute to chronic depression.
Chronic stress makes it difficult for the body to return to normal levels of stress hormone, which can contribute to problems in the following systems:
of the heart
breathing
sleep
immune system
reproductive
Frequent stress can also increase a person's risk of type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems, such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), can develop when depression becomes chronic.
Chronic stress may continue to go unnoticed, as people may tend to feel anxious and hopeless. It can be part of a person's personality, keeping them prone to the effects of stress regardless of their circumstances.
People with chronic stress are at risk of developing a final deterioration that can lead to suicide, violence, heart attack or stroke.
Causes
People react differently to stressful situations. Stress for one person may not be stressful for another, and almost any event can create stress. For some people, the mere thought of a trigger or a few minor triggers may cause considerable stress.
There is no reason why one person may feel less stressed than another when under the same pressure. Mental health conditions, such as depression, or frustration, injustice, and anxiety can make some people feel more depressed than others.
Past experiences may also affect how a person responds to stress.
Major life events that can cause stress include:
employment or retirement issues
lack of time or money
bereavement
family problems
illness
moving home
relationships, marriage, and divorce
Other commonly reported causes of depression are:
abortion or miscarriage
driving in traffic or fearing danger
fear of crime or problems with neighbors
pregnancy and parenthood
excessive noise, overcrowding, and pollution
uncertainty or waiting for a significant outcome
Some people experience persistent stress after a traumatic event, such as an accident or some form of trauma. Doctors will diagnose this as PTSD.
Those who work in stressful jobs, such as soldiers or paramedics, will have a consultation session after a major incident, and occupational health care services will monitor them with PTSD.
Symptoms and problems
Significant effects of stress may include:
sweating
pain in the back or chest
cramps or muscle stiffness
fainting
head
panic
pins and needles to feel
A 2012 study found that the pressures that parents face, such as financial problems or the management of a single-parent home, can also lead to obesity in their children.
Emotional reactions may include:
anger
fatigue
torture issues
fatigue
a feeling of insecurity
forgetfulness
resentment
nail biting
instability
sadness
Pressure-related behaviors include:
cravings and eating too much or too little
sudden anger
drug and alcohol abuse
high tobacco use
social withdrawal
constant crying
relationship problems
When stress becomes chronic, it can lead to several problems, including
anxiety
disappointment
Heart disease
high blood pressure
the immune system is low in disease
muscle pain
PTSD
difficulty sleeping
stomach
erectile dysfunction (impotence) and loss of libido.
Diagnosis
The doctor will diagnose depression by asking the person for symptoms and health events.
Getting depressed can be challenging because it depends on many factors. Physicians have used questionnaires, biochemical measures, and physiological techniques to diagnose depression. However, this may not be intentional or effective.
The most straightforward way to find stress and its consequences for a person is a complete, focused discussion of stress, face to face.
Treatment
Treatment includes self-medication and, when the old condition causes depression, certain medications.
Remedies that can help a person feel better include aromatherapy and reflexology.
Some insurance providers include this type of treatment. However, it is important that people check their coverage by their provider before following this treatment regimen. Knowing the details about possible treatment can help prevent you from adding to any ongoing stress.
Medications
Doctors do not usually prescribe antidepressants, unless they are treating an underlying medical condition, such as depression or anxiety disorder.
In such cases, they may prescribe anti-depressant. However, there is a danger that the drug will only mask depression, rather than help a person cope with it. Anti-depressants can also have side effects, and can exacerbate other stress problems, such as low libido.
Developing strategies to deal with stress before it becomes an incurable or serious illness can help each person to manage new situations and maintain their physical and mental health.
People who are already experiencing severe depression should seek medical attention.
Management
Regular physical activity can help control your stress.
People may find that the following ways of life can help them manage or protect the emotional effects of depression.
Exercise: A systematic review of animal studies in 2018 found that exercise can reduce memory impairment in stress subjects, although human studies are needed to confirm this.
Reduce your intake of alcohol, drugs and caffeine: These substances will not help prevent depression, and they can make you worse.
Nutrition: A healthy, balanced diet that is rich in fruits and vegetables can help maintain a good immune system in times of stress. An unhealthy diet can lead to more illness and depression.
Most Important Management: It can help to spend less time planning your daily activities and focusing on emergency or critical time activities. People can then focus on what they have accomplished or accomplished in a day, rather than on the tasks they have to perform.
Time: People should set aside some time to plan their schedule, relax, and pursue their hobbies.
Breathing and Resting: Meditation, exercise and yoga can help. Respiratory and relaxation techniques can reduce heart rate and promote relaxation. Deep breathing is also an important part of mental meditation.
Communication: Sharing feelings and worries with family, friends, and coworkers can help a person become “angry” and reduce feelings of loneliness. Some people may be able to suggest unexpected and effective solutions to stressors.
Accepting symptoms: A person may become so preoccupied with the stress that he or she is unable to see the results. It is important to remember any changes.
Recognizing the signs and symptoms is the first step in taking action. People who experience stress at work because of long hours may need to "take a step back." It may be time for them to review their performance or talk to their manager about finding ways to reduce the burden.
Most people have a job that helps them relax, such as reading a book, taking a walk, listening to music, or spending time with a friend, loved one, or animal. Joining a choir or gym also helps other people to relax.
The APA encourages people to develop social support networks, for example, by talking to neighbors and others in the local community or by joining a club, charity organization, or religious organization.
Those who often feel that they do not have the time or energy to do hobbies should try to find new ways of doing things that make them feel good. People can turn to their support network if they need ideas.
Being part of a team can reduce the risk of stress growth and provide practical support and assistance when challenging situations arise.
People who find that stress is affecting their daily life should seek professional help. A doctor or psychiatrist can often help, for example, with stress management training.
Stress management strategies
Stress management can help by:
removing or modifying the source of pressure
to change the way a person views a stressful event
to reduce the effects of stress on the body
learning other ways to deal with it
Depression management therapy follows one or more of these methods.
People can improve their stress management strategies by using self-help books or online resources. Alternatively, they can attend a stress management course.
A counselor or psychotherapist can connect a person with depression through self-improvement courses or individual and group treatment sessions.