About the Leading Causes of Stress

Stress is a physical response to perceived or real threats. It is vital to understand the leading causes of stress in order to know how to cope with them. Stress is a contributing factor in certain serious conditions such as heart disease and impairs the immune system. Managing stress is an aid to good health.

Acute and Chronic Stress

• According to the Mayo Clinic, there are two primary categories under which the causes of stress fall: acute stress and chronic stress. Acute stress is the deeply ingrained fight or flight response. Chronic stress results from protracted acute stress.

External Causes

• The leading causes of stress include the death of a spouse, divorce, illness, death of a child, loss of a job and moving. Major life events upset one's equilibrium, which causes physical changes and symptoms.

Internal Causes

• There are internal influences that create a stress response. For example, pessimism and perfectionism set a person up for life experiences that create stress.

Symptoms

• External causes of stress are easily recognizable. Internal causes are more elusive to diagnosis. Common symptoms of stress include, but are not limited to, memory problems, irritability, frequent colds, and over- or under-eating.

Prevention

• Stress management allows one to cope with stress in healthier ways. Beware of physical symptoms and unhealthy coping skills, such as drinking too much alcohol or increased irritability. Instead, take a walk or join a Yoga class.