Stress defined

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Stress: Management and Relief

Everyone experiences stress at some point in life, and that’s not necessarily a bad thing. But too much stress, or enduring it for too long, can hurt your health. The Web has many sites to help you learn what stress is, how it affects the body, how to find stress relief, how to manage stress, and what researchers are learning about it.

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Stress defined

There’s too much to do at work, and as usual, no time to do it. Whenever you think about the next big deadline, you begin to worry, your stomach starts aching, your heart rate speeds up; it’s the unmistakable feeling of stress. This stress response has its roots in human evolution. Its physical symptoms are part of the fight-or-flight response, a biological process designed to aid you in hazardous situations. But the human body isn’t built to withstand those reactions for long, and when it does, stress becomes harmful.

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Even positive events can lead to stress. A new job, a wedding, or a baby means adjusting to changes, which can be stressful, no matter how happy someone is about them.

Symptoms of stress vary widely, and no two people will respond exactly the same. One of the important things to keep in mind is whether the symptoms are interfering with your daily life and relationships. If they are, it’s time to seek counseling or other help to cope with your stress.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which can seriously affect a person’s life after a harrowing event, is very different from acute or even chronic stress. To learn more about post-traumatic stress disorder, see our findingDulcinea Mental Health Web Guide.

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For an overview of stress and its types …

MedlinePlus , a site of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, has interactive tutorials on a variety of topics designed for the public. The stress tutorial covers the basics of stress, has 10 common tips for preventing stress, and tips to manage unavoidable stress. Quiz questions throughout help reinforce the messages. If you don’t have a fast enough Internet connection for this multimedia presentation, the same stress information is available as a PDF.

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The American Academy of Family Physicians has a page that briefly describes stress, its causes, and some signs, such as headaches and depression.

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The Cleveland Clinic explains the three different phases of stress and goes on to describe how to manage each of them.

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The American Psychological Association’s “Help Center” has an article describing the different types of stress, such as acute, episodic acute, and chronic. Chronic stress is the kind experienced by those who live in violent areas or who have endured long-standing trauma and turmoil.

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For the symptoms of stress …

The Cleveland Clinic has a list of stress signs and symptoms, along with tips for when you should call your doctor.

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For stress in children and teens …

TeensHealth explains stress and its signs. This site includes tips for de-stressing, such as speaking up when teens feel their lives are “overscheduled” or too packed with activities.

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The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry has a page about stress in teens, and what parents and adolescents can do to manage it. The Academy also lists signs that indicate parents should seek help for their children’s behavior.

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The Federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration explains why parents might be feeling so stressed out these days, and what effect that could have on children. It includes tips for managing stress along with links to additional resources.

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