All About Acute Stress

All About Acute Stress January 31, 2018 How Stress Impacts Your Health Overview Signs of Burnout Stress and Weight Gain Benefits of Exercise Stress Reduction Tips Self-Care Practices Mindful Living Acute stress isnt serious, but it can build up. Heres how to manage it. Annie Engel/Cultura/Getty Images There are several different types of stress, and not all of them are necessarily unhealthy.    Acute stress  is one of the least damaging types of stress, which is good because it is also the most common type.  We experience acute stress multiple times throughout the day.  Acute stress is experienced as an immediate perceived threat, either physical, emotional or psychological. These threats dont need to be intensely threateningâ€"they can be mild stressors like an alarm clock going off, a new assignment at work, or even a phone call that needs to be answered when youre relaxing on the couch and your phone is across the room.  Acute stress can also be more serious, like being pulled over for speeding, getting into an argument with a friend, or taking a test.  The threat can be real or imagined; it’s the perception of threat that triggers the stress response.   During an acute stress response, the  autonomic nervous system  is activated and the body experiences increased levels of  cortisol,  adrenaline  and other hormones that produce an increased heart rate, quickened breathing rate, and higher blood pressure. Blood is shunted from the extremities to the big muscles, preparing the body to fight or run away. This is also known as the  fight-or-flight response. Acute stress can be easily managed because it occurs and then its over. It doesnt bring the toll on health that comes with chronic stress because it is possible and relatively easy to recover from acute stressâ€"simple relaxation techniques can work quickly of your stress response doesnt resolve into a relaxation response on its own. Repeated instances of acute stress, however, can bring more of a toll. Either multiple instances of different acute stressors (a series of unrelated stressful events) or repeated occurrences of the same acute stressors (experiencing the same stress repeatedly) can add up to a state of chronic stress where the bodys stress response is constantly triggered. Because of this, its important to have a stress management plan.  The following steps can reduce the chances of having your acute stressors add up to more significant levels of stress. Eliminate Stress When Possible Cutting down on the little things that repeatedly stress youâ€" your tolerationsâ€"can minimize your overall stress levels.  You can also take other steps to  minimize lifestyle stress.  You cant eliminate all stress (nor would you want to), but you can cut out stress where possible and this can really add up. Learn Relaxation Techniques That Work for You   This means finding ways to  relax your body and calm your mind.  You cant always predict the stressors in your life, but you can reverse your stress response after you encounter these stressors. Adopt Resilience-Building Habits   Yes, certain habits can build resilience toward stress.  These include  meditation, exercise, and more. Taking on one of these habits (or several) can really help you to manage acute stress as well as chronic stress.