April is Stress Awareness Month. It is to raise awareness about how to deal with stress and anxiety. The Health Resource Network, Inc. has sponsored Stress Awareness Month every year since 1992. Each year, healthcare professionals all over the country use April as a time to increase public awareness about causes and treatments of stress.
What is Stress?
Stress is the body’s response to a change requiring an adjustment. The response can be physical, mental, or emotional. Many people feel stress regularly from work or family life. Sudden changes in a routine can cause additional stress not normally experienced, such as a job change, illness or divorce. In some instances, stress is caused by traumatic situations, such as a serious accident, a major illness or the death of a loved one. Society faces a unique situation this year with exposure to new stressors, including uncertainty about the future, anxiety relating to social settings and financial concerns. Over-stressing impacts the body negatively and can lead to long term health problems.
Types of Stress
There are three types of stress that people experience: acute stress, episodic acute stress, and chronic stress.
Acute stress is the most common and is not necessarily a bad thing. It is the immediate reaction to an event, also known as a fight-or-flight response. It can occur because of an argument with a family member or from riding a roller coaster. Some acute stress can be beneficial because it forces the brain to respond to stressful situations in small doses. Severe acute stress however is more dangerous long-term and can cause issues such as post-traumatic stress disorder. Traumatic situations, such as a near-death experience, are the primary cause of severe acute stress.
Episodic acute stress is when acute stress happens with some regularity. Many have seen people suffering episodic acute stress. Those suffering are often “type-A” who constantly put more on their plate and take on more than they can handle. These kinds of people often accept stress as part of their life. They can have short-tempers and be irritable or anxious. People experiencing episodic acute stress must make changes to their lifestyle to properly manage their stress.
Chronic stress is stress that is not properly handled and continues or worsens. When people do not make changes to manage stress, the stress becomes constant and can cause disease or other health risks. The good news is that stress can be managed.
Handling Stress
The best way to handle stress is to exercise regularly, eat healthy and get sleep regularly. For severe situations, people may need to seek treatment such as counseling or meditation. When possible, removing the stressor, even temporarily, can make an impact. Changing jobs can be stressful initially but may be better long term and overall reduce stress. Some people turn to drugs or alcohol to handle stress. These types of relief should be avoided as long-term effects are often worse than short-term benefits.
Prevention is also a great way to handle stress. Take time every day to laugh or do something you love. Meditate, try yoga or simply stretch to relieve tension in your body and release negative energy. Set limits for yourself when feeling stress by asking yourself if it is possible for you to achieve all the goals set forth or what can change. Finally, be social. We are in a unique time where social distancing is critical to our health and well-being, but making a phone call to a loved one can genuinely help limit the impact of stress.
It is important that awareness surrounding stress and anxiety continues so that people can properly manage their physical, mental and emotional stress.
The Merdes Law Firm has been helping injured Alaskans for more than 30 years. It’s who we are. And while we hope you never need us … We’re here if you do. ~ Ward Merdes
