Stress basics (8)
- Stress: Win control over the stress in your life
- Stress management: Understand your sources of stress
- Stress management: How do you react during stressful situations?
- see all in Stress basics
Stress relief (20)
- Being assertive: Reduce stress, communicate better
- Positive thinking: Reduce stress, enjoy life more
- Social support: Tap this tool to reduce stress
- see all in Stress relief
Relaxation techniques (7)
- Relaxation techniques: Learn ways to reduce your stress
- Meditation: Take a stress-reduction break wherever you are
- Exercise: Rev up your routine to reduce stress
- see all in Relaxation techniques
Mayo Clinic Health Manager
Get free personalized health guidance for you and your family.
Get Started
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Stress management: Understand your sources of stress
Your response to the demands of the world determines your stress level. Take time to consider common stressors and how they may be affecting you.
By Mayo Clinic staffThe kids are screaming, the bills are due and there's a pile of work on your desk that's growing at an absurdly swift pace. It's undeniable — life often seems full of stress. But understanding the types and sources of stress — big and small, short-term and long-term, internal and external — is an important part of stress management. So where does your stress come from?
Two main types of stress
Stress is your body's reaction to the demands of the world, and stressors are events or conditions in your surroundings that may trigger stress. Two main types of stress you face are:
- Acute stress. Also known as the fight-or-flight response, acute stress is your body's immediate reaction to a significant threat, challenge or scare. The acute-stress response is immediate, it's intense, and in certain circumstances, it can be thrilling. Examples of stressors that may cause an acute-stress response are a job interview, a fender bender or an exhilarating ski run.
- Chronic stress. This results from long-term exposure to acute stress. The chronic-stress response is much more subtle than is the acute-stress response, but the effects may be longer lasting and more problematic. The stressors that may lead to chronic stress are the nagging, day-to-day life situations that often seem unrelenting. This includes relationship problems, work difficulties and financial woes.
Effective stress management involves identifying and managing both acute and chronic stress.
Symptoms of stress
While mild stress can actually be beneficial — it can spur you into action, motivate and energize you — it's often the buildup of the little things that can really "stress you out." Persistent stress can lead to many adverse health problems, including:
- Physical symptoms, such as headache and fatigue
- Mental symptoms, such as poor concentration
- Emotional symptoms, such as irritability and depression
- Social symptoms, such as isolation and resentment
(1 of 2)
