Stress is a cascade of hormonal, neurochemical, and biochemical reactions to external stimuli triggering the “fight-or-flight” response by the autonomic nervous system.
Factors that lead to chronic stress:
- Family Factors
- Health Factor
- Social Factors
- Environmental Factors
- Occupational Factors
- Recreational drugs
Family Factors
Family stress factors
- Confusion
- Divorce
- Emotional abuse (criticism, humiliation, etc.)
- Family miscommunication
- Family responsibilities
- Feeling anxious, confused, helpless
- Financial problems
- Health problems
- Job role dissatisfaction
- Moving to a new home or school
- New baby
- Parental mental health problems
- Marital dissatisfaction
- Taking care of a relative
- Unresolved conflicts
- Verbal abuse (consistent bullying, hostility, rejection)
Management techniques
- Acknowledge your errors
- Be generous in expressing love
- Create a personal growth plan
- Change one habit at a time
- Create a healthy environment
- Embrace each family member for their contributions, hard work, and daily efforts
- Encourage helping each other
- Embark your family journey to self-improvement
- Focus on yourself
- Hold family meetings
- Get professional help
- Help family members through self-development
- Increase the dose of love, it has no side effects
- Laughter is the best medicine
- Make a lasting impression through actions
- Nurture optimism
- Practice active listening techniques
- Practice forgiveness and empathy
- Take responsibility
- Practice assertive communication
Health Factors
- Chronic disease
- Sleep deprivation or insomnia
- Injury
- Disability
Mental health factors
- Anxiety, cognitive distortion, emotional stress (consistent fear, anger, worry, etc.) unrealistic expectations, death of a family member, uncertainty, unresolved trauma
- Activated fight or flight response
- Sympathetic dominance
- Adrenal overdrive (increased catecholamines (norepinephrine, epinephrine) and cortisol production)
Social Factors
Social stressors
- Being socially manipulated (a type of bullying that exploits individuals for self-advantage)
- Co-worker, roommate, or classmate conflict
- Cultural barriers
- Isolation (withdrawal)
- Lack of social support, social identity (need to belong, belongingness), or social skills
- Language barrier
- Negative group environments
- Poor communication skills
- Social anxiety
- Social discrimination (disability, sexual orientation, religious, nationality, race or ethnicity, pregnancy, name, etc.)
- Unfair treatment
- Unhealthy relationships (dishonesty, disrespect, jealousy, manipulation, etc.)
Social stress management
- Talk to someone (friend, family member, etc.)
- Work on self-development, self-discovery, and self-identity
- Seek professional help (counseling)
- Lean effective communication techniques to resolve problems, increase productivity, confidence, engagement, and opportunities
- Acknowledge and affirm
- Ask questions
- Be open-minded
- Begin conversations with open-ended questions
- Choose your words carefully
- Disagree respectfully
- Empathize with others
- Give and receive feedback
- Practice active listening
- Remain silent but attentive
- Seek clarification
- Smile
- Use sense of humor
Environmental Factors
- Social pressure
- Traumatic event
- Pandemics (COVID-19)
- War
- Lack of security
- Natural disasters
- Environmental toxins
- Political change
- Unsafe neighborhood
- Unhealthy home & work environment
- Troublesome neighbor
Occupational Factors
- School
- Rotating work shifts
- Unemployment
- Unhealthy work environment
- Work overload or underload
- Role conflict
- Discrimination
- Information overload
- Occupational demands
- Management mistreatment
- Unfair wages
- Lack of advancement opportunities
- Job dissatisfaction
- Fear of losing your job
Recreational drugs
- Stimulants (cocaine, etc.)
- Depressants (alcohol, opioids, etc.)
- Opium-related painkillers (heroin, etc.)
- Hallucinogens (LSD, etc.)
When to see a doctor
Seek a healthcare provider when experiencing disproportionate and persistent stress to address your root cause
DISCLAIMER
This information is intended for educational purposes only and it is not intended to take the place of consultation with your physician.
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