Chronic Stress

Stress is a natural part of life; however, experiencing stressful situations and challenges continuously for a long period of time is harmful and detrimental to your health and general well-being. An acute stress that lasts for long periods of time becomes a chronic stress. Nothing good comes from chronic stress; it always triggers negative vibrations accompanied by negative thoughts, negative emotions, negative behaviors, and poor mental and physical health. It is now widely believed by most healthcare professionals that majority of all doctor’s visits in this present high tech age results from stress-related health issues. As such, it is important to know and understand how stress, especially chronic stress, affects your day-to-day life, long-term health and general well-being. Chronic stress is dangerous to your life and detrimental to your health and general well-being. It is now scientifically established that chronic stress is a health risk and a major contributor to several life-threatening diseases and events, such as heart diseases, stroke, high blood pressure, lung diseases, and cirrhosis of the liver, suicides, and accidents. In the United States, the pressure to succeed and live the American dream is a key factor behind the chronic stress experienced by many people in this century. The causes of chronic stress include financial difficulties resulting from non-payment of bills, long-term economic hardship due to unemployment, relationship conflicts such as separation from a sexual partner, or divorce and major life changes such as the loss of a loved one. Social issues, especially arguments about personal, political, and religious beliefs can also lead to chronic stress. Living in the ghettos in large crime-ridden cities and unsafe neighborhoods where violence is the norm and most residents worry over their personal safety, combined with feelings of discrimination because of your race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation may also lead to chronic stress. Scientific evidence has shown that the pressure to succeed and live the good life as well as office politics, and the daily pressure and conflict from a job is the main cause of long-term stress for many people. The daily stress of long commute to and from work, personal conflicts at work with your boss and colleagues, and spousal abuse may lead to chronic stress if allowed to continue for a long period of time. It is now well-established that chronic stress is a health hazard and plays a significant role in the initiation, development, and progression of chronic diseases and disorders.