There are five stages of stress; fight or flight, damage control, recovery, adaption, and burnout.
Toxic stress response:
This is the body's response to lasting and serious stress, without enough support from a caregiver. When a child doesn't get the help he needs, his body can't turn off the stress response normally. This lasting stress can harm a child's body and brain and can cause lifelong health problems.
Becoming easily agitated, frustrated, and moody. Feeling overwhelmed, as if you are losing control or need to take control. Having a hard time relaxing and quieting your mind. Feeling bad about yourself (low self-esteem), and feeling lonely, worthless, and depressed.
This can put you at increased risk for a variety of physical and mental health problems, including anxiety, depression, digestive issues, headaches, muscle tension and pain, heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure, stroke, sleep problems, weight gain, and memory and concentration impairment.
Some of the physical signs that your stress levels are too high include: Pain or tension in your head, chest, stomach, or muscles. Your muscles tend to tense up when you're stressed, and over time this can cause headaches, migraines, or musculoskeletal problems. Digestive problems.
For example, your doctor might offer to prescribe: Sleeping pills or minor tranquillisers, if you're having trouble sleeping. Antidepressants, if you're experiencing depression or anxiety alongside stress. Medication to treat any physical symptoms of stress, such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or high blood pressure.
The most common medications to manage symptoms of stress are tranquilizers, beta-blockers, and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), among others. Additional treatments may include acupuncture and herbal remedies.
Stress can cause mental health problems.
And it can make existing problems worse. For example, if you experience lots of stress, this might lead you to develop a mental health problem like anxiety or depression. Or a traumatic period of stress might lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Stress that's left unchecked can contribute to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
Acute stress.
This is short-term stress that goes away quickly. You feel it when you slam on the brakes, have a fight with your partner, or ski down a steep slope. It helps you manage dangerous situations. It also occurs when you do something new or exciting.
There is no specific test to diagnose stress. Typically, your healthcare professional conducts a variety of tests (which may include a personal and family health history, blood and urine tests and other assessments) to rule out various medical conditions.
If we feel stressed 'for no reason', it usually means that our thoughts are causing the stress, rather than a concrete event. This could be thoughts about the past, but in most cases it's thoughts about the future, since stress is designed to equip us for difficult periods.
Stress becomes a medical concern if it is already beginning to affect a person's function and way of life. If stress renders one incapable of working or functioning at home because of the recurrence of physical symptoms even in the absence of the stressor, it is best to immediately seek medical help from professionals.
How is stress diagnosed? Stress is subjective — not measurable with tests. Only the person experiencing it can determine whether it's present and how severe it feels. A healthcare provider may use questionnaires to understand your stress and how it affects your life.
If you're feeling overwhelmed by stress, talk to your family doctor. Don't be embarrassed about how you're feeling. Tell your doctor about all of your physical and emotional symptoms. He or she can recommend stress management methods, support groups, counseling, or medicine to help you feel better.