Stress Definitions and Differences
Need to Know
Issue No. 5: Stressed Out!
Words - Aarti Patel
Illustration - ALEXANDRA FOLINO
According to the American Psychological Association, there are three types of stress:
Acute Stress
Episodic Acute Stress
Chronic Stress
Acute Stress:
This is the most common form of stress. It comes from any demand or pressure of the recent past or in the near future. It can be thrilling and exciting in the short term, but too much can be overwhelming and exhausting. Think recent break up or an approaching deadline you can’t help but worry about.
Many of us are aware of symptoms of acute stress, such as:
1: emotional distress: anger, anxiety, depression
2: muscular distress: tension headaches, back pain, tension on your muscles
3: stomach and bowel issues: heartburn, diarrhea, constipation
4: excessive fight or flight response: elevated blood pressure, fast heart rate, sweaty palms, dizziness
Since acute stress is a short-term response, it does not have the long term consequences that chronic stress can have on your body.
Episodic Acute Stress:
When your day to day life frequently triggers stress reactions, this may reflect episodic acute stress. Some people may describe it as living a life of “chaos and crisis,” or constant tension. People may feel constantly overwhelmed, overworked, or always in a rush, causing a constant stress overload that will eventually begin to cause wear and tear to your body. Symptoms are similar to that of acute stress, but they persist over long periods of time and, if untreated, can contribute to health problems, like migraines, or hypertension.
Chronic Stress:
Chronic Stress is when individuals or communities suffer for prolonged periods of time from emotional pressure in which they feel like they have little to no agency to make decisions, or limited to no control over their safety.
Systemic, institutionalized, and deeply personal issues can individually and collectively cause chronic stress on one’s body. These prolonged stressors can include things like frequent hate-crimes targeting a community that you belong to, the destruction or loss of your home in a natural disaster, being at risk of deportation or being undocumented, fearing for your physical or emotional safety at home, living through an armed conflict, or constantly worrying about your ability to afford basic necessities. Systemic and institutionalized oppression or traumatic events may not seem immediately connected to long-term health outcomes, but long-term exposure to chronic stress has been shown to cause a number of health problems such as hypertension, heart attacks, stroke, and increase the risk for psychiatric disorders.
