Stress related illness is something that you can develop if you are subject to stress over a period of time. This is known as chronic stress, in comparison with acute stress which is something short term.

Many health issues can be caused by chronic stress. When the body is under stress, the blood pressure rises. If this continues for any length of time it can cause hypertension (high blood pressure) and heart disease.

At the same time, blood is diverted from the digestive system to other functions. This can lead to all kinds of digestive disorders from stomach cramps to constipation, diarrhea or irritable bowel.

The third main cause of stress related illness is damage to the immune system. This can mean that pretty much any illness is more serious than it would otherwise be. The body is less able to fight off common viral diseases like colds and flu, as well as more serious illnesses.

If you have a health condition that you think might be a stress related illness, then clearly it is important to treat the stress as well as the symptoms of the illness itself.

The first step is to identify what is causing your chronic stress. This is not always easy because it may be something that you have accepted as ‘just part of life’. It could be work related, including difficult working conditions, noise in the workplace, a demanding boss, a competitive or unpleasant atmosphere, or long working hours. It might be related to your home life such as frequent disputes with a spouse, child or other family member, or it may be something like loneliness or being generally more anxious than other people.

All of these things can cause stress related illness and there are many other possible causes too. You may very likely have more than one possible stressor in your life. So it is important to make a list of all of the things in your life that might be causing you stress, and then take some time to figure out what you can do about them.

This is often the hardest step. People under stress often feel that there is nothing that they can do. Possible solutions sometimes seem like they will cause more stress, not reduce it. Examples might be looking for another job, arranging more social activities or figuring out ways to handle a problem teenager.

So first, sit down and brainstorm as many possible solutions as you can think of, even the most wild ones that you would never consider doing in real life. Just accepting that you have options can help to deal with the stress. Some of them might lead to you thinking of other possibilities that you had not considered, and you may end up with a real, workable solution.

If not, and your final decision is that you cannot change whatever is causing your stress, then it is time to decide that it is not your problem. Accept it, let go of it, perhaps even try to enjoy it. Be aware of all the times when it causes you stress, acknowledge them and take steps to relax. This way you can deal with the situation each time it arises and avoid the kind of chronic stress that leads to stress related illness.

Life has it’s ups and downs. It happens to everyone. But, how you handle it is directly related to your stress level and overall happiness.

What is stress exactly? In simple terms, it is how you relate to the situations around you. Whether it is work, family, school or any other situation, you react, change or adapt according to the stressor (the situation).

Everyone acts differently to stress and it goes without saying that we don’t always act in a productive or positive way. Case in point, traffic jams. How often to you see people waving their arms violently, honking their horns and behaving in otherwise unproductive manners when stuck in traffic? These are responses to a stressor, maybe not the best ones, but responses nonetheless.

Good Stress versus Bad Stress

There are two types of stress: good stress (“eustress”) and bad stress. Good stress can refer to situations that spur you on to take a needed action. For example, knowing that your sports rival has a better race time than you can cause you to train harder to win. A little healthy competition is good for the soul.

Bad stress is the kind that comes from situations that we don’t want to confront or find not to our liking. An example would be finding out that you being laid off by your company or death of a loved one. These situations are ones that cause significant physical and mental stress

There are other examples of bad stress, but you get the picture. You’ve probably dealt with bad stress in your life already or are dealing with it right now.

Stress and Your Response

So, what happens when you experience stress? The body goes through a “fight or flight” response. The adrenaline gets pumping; your heart starts racing and every fiber of your body is ready for something. When the world was young, this type of response probably saved many people from being eaten by angry hungry animals.

Nowadays, that response happens when we are in danger. But, it also happens in people who are experiencing very stressful situations. When there is too much stress, the body is actually affected in a negative way.

The best way to handle stress is to manage it. That sounds simplistic but it can be easier than you think. Stress management can save you a lot of headaches – literally.

Wondering why you feel on edge all the time? It could be stress. Learn the difference between good and bad stress so you can learn how to manage it.

There are three main types of stress: acute, chronic and post traumatic. In this article we will look at them each in turn, and see what you can do about them.

1. Acute Stress

Despite the name, acute stress is not necessarily more intense than other types of stress. It is called acute because it arises quickly and usually relates to one event. After the event is over, the stress will be gone.

An example might be having an injection at the doctor’s office, or being due to give a presentation at work. In some cases, such as giving the presentation, the stress may help you to perform better and is not a bad thing. However, in other situations you might want to perform relaxation techniques or even take something to calm you. You don’t want diarrhea during that presentation!

2. Chronic Stress

Chronic stress is different than other types of stress because the cause may not be so clearly identifiable. It relates to a situation where you are under stress most of the time, or at least for long periods in your life. It is when you have a worry or pressure always at the back of your mind. You may not even be aware that you are stressed, you are so used to living with it. But the condition is constantly there.

Chronic stress often leads to debilitating health conditions and illnesses. Stress mainly affects the circulatory, digestive and immune systems. So when a body is under constant stress, it is likely that problems such as high blood pressure and digestive disorders will occur.

A person suffering from chronic stress is also more likely to develop viral illnesses like colds and flu, because the immune system is compromised. If the person has a tendency to an autoimmune disease like eczema, rheumatoid arthritis or lupus, these are likely to get worse in times of stress.

Because of the risk of serious illnesses developing, it is important to deal with chronic stress by finding a way to resolve the stressful situation. If this is not possible, for example in the case of people who are just naturally anxious, regular practice of relaxation techniques may help.

3. Post Traumatic Stress

Post traumatic stress can be traced back to a particular traumatic incident. Examples could include being involved in a plane crash, earthquake, serious traffic accident or war, being raped or held hostage, being abused as a child and other situations where a person’s life or integrity is at risk or they see others being seriously hurt or killed.

A person suffering from post traumatic stress disorder may have memory loss, nightmares, insomnia, severe depression or anger outbursts. Sometimes this can go on for years, either continuously or with symptoms reappearing when minor traumas later in life trigger a reminder of the incident.

PTSD requires professional treatment. Therapy is most effective if it can start quickly after the incident, but it is important to seek help whenever you become aware that you or someone close to you may have suffered a serious trauma that is causing one of these types of stress.