What is stress and it's types

What is stress,types of stress

Acknowledgement.                                                                              In the name of Allah the most Merciful and Beneficent First and Foremost praise is to ALLAH, the Almighty, the greatest of all, on whom ultimately we depend for sustenance and guidance. I would like to thank Almighty Allah for giving me opportunity, determination and strength to do my research. His continuous grace and mercy was with me throughout my life and ever more during the tenure of my research.


Stress...

                                           
  Introduction

Stress is a common problem that affects almost all of us at some point in our lives. Learning to identify when you are under stress, what is stressing you, and different ways of coping with stress can greatly improve both your mental and physical well being.
Stress. 'A stimulus resulting in arousal or a response to a specific situation' Arousal - 'A state of readiness to perform that helps motivate individuals' Eustress - 'A positive reaction of a performer to stress, leading to optimal arousal' Stressors - This is the situation that causes the stressful response
Stress is your body's way of responding to any kind of demand. It can be caused by both good and bad experiences. When people feel stressed by something going on around them, their bodies react by releasing chemicals into the blood. These chemicals give people more energy and strength, which can be a good thing if their stress is caused by physical danger.
Stress is the expressive and physical strain caused by our response to pressure from the outside world. Common stress reactions include anxiety, bad temper, inability to concentrate, and a variety of physical symptoms that include headache and a fast heartbeat. It’s almost impossible to live without some stress. (Whitman, 1985.)

     Stress is experienced when a body responds to any kind of excessive demand; stress can be caused by both good and bad experiences. When a body feels stressed by something around, it reacts by releasing chemicals into the blood, which gives the body more energy and strength. This can be a good thing, if the stress is caused by physical activity.
Similarly it can be a bad thing when stress is in response to an emotional instance and there is no outlet for this extra energy and strength. In this blog we will be discussing about – the different causes of stress, how it affects you, the difference between ‘good’ or ‘positive’ stress and ‘bad’ or ‘negative’ stress, and some common facts about how stress affects people today
                                       
 Overview of Stress

We all experience stress at one time or another. Stress is a normal reaction to positive and negative changes. It affects our bodies, emotions, thoughts and behaviors. The effects of stress can be positive, negative or a combination of the two. For example, stress can motivate you and improve your concentration, or it can paralyze your ability to accomplish anything at all. What Are The Signs and Symptoms of Stress? The following are feelings, thoughts and behaviors many of us experience at some time. If you have several of these symptoms and they linger or keep recurring, it is probably a sign of stress. Get to know your own pattern of reacting to stress so you can notice it early and work to reduce it before it gets worse.

Physical Signs

• Tiredness or fatigue
• Headache, aches and pains • Feeling tense
• Muscle spasms
• Rapid heart beat
• Heavy perspiration or cold sweat
 • Stomach and digestive problems

 Emotional Signs

• Anxiety or fearfulness
• Loneliness or helplessness
 • Feeling on edge or apprehensive
 • Easily frustrated or upset
 Feeling pressured or pressed for time

Cognitive Signs

 • Trouble concentrating
• Daydreaming
• Thinking the same thing over and over
 • Increased focus and concentration
 • Confusion and forgetfulness
 • Trouble remembering things
 • Dulled thinking

Behavioral Signs

• Missing deadlines
• Following rules rigidly
• Being extra-productive
 • Making more mistakes than usual
 • Increased aggression
• Using alcohol, drugs and cigarettes • Change in eating or sleeping habits

Overview of Stress


   Types of Stress-

Stress can be acute (short term), episodic (frequent), or chronic (long term).
Acute stress, which is the most common type, results from events, pressures, and demands of the recent past and anticipated in the near future.
Acute stress that occurs frequently is called
episodic stress-. This type of stress is common in people whose lives are extremely busy or disorganized, and in those who tend to worry excessively.
Chronic stress is a serious condition. This type, which occurs when a stressful situation is prolonged and continuous, often causes severe physical and emotional symptoms.
efits.
          The Effects of Stress In Athletes (INFOGRAPHIC)
On MAY 31, 2018
Author: Rosemary Buckle, M.D.
Stress is the body’s natural response to a fight-or-flight scenario. It’s one of the primary reasons why humankind has survived. Stress helps us do difficult things and and make advancements and achievements.
…and then it also can cause us to shut down, feel exhausted, lose our appetites, miss out on hours of sleep, and become irritable. We’re all familiar with the symptoms of stress: the racing heartbeat, the tension in the forehead…
So, where’s the middle ground? A new info graphic from National Athletic Trainers’ Association (NATA) takes a closer look at stress, its symptoms, and self-care techniques – particularly as they relate to student athletes.
“Student athletes report higher levels of negative emotional states than other adolescents,” reports NATA. Increased stress can have short- and long-term effects on physical and mental health. If you are a student athlete (or a parent of a student athlete), keep reading to find out how you can combat stress from athletic activities.
Major sources of stress include:

The pressure to win
Competition for athletic scholarships
Academic responsibilities
Overtraining
Lack of rest and recovery time
Stress can lead to burnout, which is just one reason why many healthcare providers and sports organizations recommend that young athletes play more than one sport and not specialize in a single sport at an early age.
Stress can have negative effects physically, mentally and behaviorally. Sustained amounts of stress can cause long-term damage to one’s overall mental and physical health. Stress can contribute to physical ailments such as, but not limited to:
Headaches, fatigue, memory problems, difficulty sleeping, mental disorders
Acne and other skin problems
Rapid heartbeat, rise in blood pressure, heart attack
Muscle tension, backaches, reduced bone density
Nausea, stomach pain, heartburn, weight gain or loss
Increased risk of diabetes
Digestive problems
Irregular or painful periods
How Can I Reduce Stress Through Self-Care?

Get a proper amount of sleep nightly
Make a hydration schedule to avoid dehydration
Follow good nutrition recommendations
Form hobbies outside of sports
Stress and injuries
A Huffington Post article by Roger Covin notes that, “one of the most common physical symptoms of stress is increased muscle tension, which can obviously interfere with motor functions.” If the athlete is stiff or having trouble performing simple movements while playing their sport, they could put themselves at a higher risk of injury. Additionally “recovery from injuries, including minor muscle tears, can be slowed by stress’ negative impact on the body,” according to the article.
A delicate balance
According to Patrick Cohn in How Stress Can Affect Sports Performance, stress is often viewed as a limitation, but in reality it can also be beneficial, helping to motivate the athlete. Cohn explains, “in the right amount, stress helps you prepare, focus, and perform at your optimal level. Conversely, too much stress, or bad stress, can cause performance anxiety, which hurts your health and does not allow you to play relaxed, confident, and focused in competition.” When you’re dealing with mental obstacles like apprehension or anxiety, your body follows suit by physically tightening up, and as a result this can lead to complications with athletic performance. To perform at your best, stress levels must be both effective and manageable.
Coping with stress
Performance Enhancement & Rehab Specialist, Kelsey Griffith, MS, believes it is crucial for athletes to maintain their overall health with proper rest, recovery, and relaxation. She explains that we strive to keep our athletes healthy, both physically and mentally. And yet, sport injury statistics are rising. These changes are indicative of the need for athletes and health practitioners to be fully aware of the processes needed to maintain holistic well-being. As off-season months for most sports continue to grow smaller in number, further knowledge is needed to avoid the negative consequences of training fatigue and distress, as well as potential injury.