Short Term Stress

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What is Short Term Stress?

Short-term stress is the most common type of stress. It lasts for brief periods. In small amounts, short-term stress is harmless. It affects everyone differently.

Things that can cause short term stress include arguments with friends and loved ones, having to wait in traffic, giving a public speech, having a baby, getting married, and a short term illness. It’s pretty typical for people to experience short term stress at different points in their lives.

What are the Symptoms of Short Term Stress?

The symptoms of short term stress include:

Headache
Racing heartbeat
Butterflies in the stomach

Muscle tension
Muscle pain
Fatigue

Spike in blood pressure
Upset stomach
Shortness of breath

As stated above, short term stress isn’t harmful to the body. But if short term stress turns into long-term, stress can cause some real health issues. These health issues include cardiovascular problems.

The Effects of Short Term Stress

Stress is a constant in life and often unavoidable. The effects of the short term vary from person to person. It can be positive and keep a person focused. It can also give one a sense of accomplishment when a task is completed. Short-term stress can also motivate and push one to finish a job.

The only time stress becomes a problem is when it develops into the long term. Long-term stress can cause heart attack, high blood pressure, and even obesity.

The positive effects of short term stress include:

Increased focus
Increased motivation

A feeling of accomplishment

How to Relieve Short Term Stress

There are a variety of strategies and steps one can take to help relieve short term stress. Exercise is a way to reduce short term stress. Head to the gym or go for a walk in the park. Exercise helps release those endorphins for that overall good feeling. Writing in a journal. It can help relieve short term stress, too. It’s an excellent opportunity to get your feelings out. Expressing feelings on paper is an effective relief for short term stress. Write down the things that are bothering you.

Yoga, meditation, and guided imagery are effective ways to relieve short-term stress. You can escape and do things like taking a vacation with guided imagery. It’s a great way to relax.

Doing something that you enjoy is also a good reliever for short term stress. Like to paint? Pick up a paintbrush. Like to walk? Head for the nearest park. Enjoy baking? Bake some yummy brownies. Doing something you enjoy helps take your mind off your problems.

Who does short term stress affect?

Short term stress affects everyone. Everyone feels stressed out at times.Some folks handle it better than others.

Is all stress bad for you?

Not all stress is bad for you. Stress can help a person prepare for an exam and even an interview. Stress can also save your life if you’re in danger or a threatening situation. All of your body functions are primed for survival. Your muscles tense, you breathe faster, your pulse increases and your brain uses more oxygen. Your body is preparing you for fight or flight. In this sense, stress is a good thing.

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Can stress cause a person to gain or lose weight?

The short answer is yes. Stress can cause a person to both gain and lose weight. When you are under stress, your hormones can change. This can lead to cravings for more food and sweets. Some people burn more calories when under stress. This can lead to weight loss. Everybody is different.

Does stress increase blood pressure?

To date, here is no scientific evidence to prove that stress directly increases blood pressure. However, there is scientific evidence that chronic stress does weaken the immune system.

Summary

Moderation goes a long way when it comes to stress. A little bit of stress can be good for you, and a lot of it can be bad for you. Medication can help reduce stress levels, but it’s always better to remove the stressor from your life or to develop healthy strategies for coping with it than to rely on medication for it.

Many people have been successful in dealing with stress by implementing healthy strategies for coping. So, if you are feeling stressed out, put your thinking cap on and come up with a few effective healthy strategies to cope with short-term stress.

If you cannot think of any effective strategies for coping with short-term stress, consider joining a self-help group. Sometimes, two heads are better than one.