Everyone experiences "stress" from time to time. While being exposed to stress, nearly everyone feels one or more symptoms such as pain, fatigue, memory problems, headache, digestive problems, etc. These symptoms typically resolve when the "stress" resolves.

However, there are certain types of "stressors" (see below) that can sometimes trigger longer-term (chronic) symptoms in some individuals.

• Infections (e.g., parvovirus, Epstein-Barr Virus, Lyme Disease, Q fever)
  
• Physical trauma (automobile accidents)
  
• Psychological stress/distress
  
• Hormonal alterations (e.g., hypothyroidism)
  
• Drugs
  
• Vaccines
  
• Certain catastrophic events (e.g., war)
  

Discomfort from long-term stress tends to come from 3 sources:

1. The triggering event itself (e.g., pain from an auto accident)
   
2. The body’s adaptation to stress (e.g., fatigue)
   
3. The open door to other diseases
   

Whether the symptoms from these 3 sources can be fully reversed or rehabilitated is still not fully known. We currently have good therapies for acute stressors and chronic diseases, but we know less about how to reverse the effects of the long-term stress response. It is thought that behaviorally oriented treatments (for example exercise and other self-management stratergies) are a good option.

Once bitten ... It is likely that self-management can help to reverse the body alterations caused by the long-term stress response. BUT the body may remain sensitized to stressors. That is, it may be more vulnerable to future stressors because of having previously dealt with a long-term stressor. This vulnerability makes it easier to trigger a subsequent long-term stress response. Thus, it is likely that the techniques discussed in each unit will need to be used over an extended time period in order to manage the long-term stress response.

So what can be done about the stressor and the stress response?

Some people would like to eliminate stress from their lives. Besides being practically impossible, this is not recommended because some stress is actually helpful. For example, you need some acute stress (challenges) in order to be motivated. Life would be dull if there were no challenges. A dull life is a stressor.

Now, let’s focus on two stress management skills:

1. Tracking stressors
   
2. Deep Breathing

Stress Management – Skills >