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Stress evolved as a natural reaction to threats in the environment. This survival mechanism is the fight-or-flight response. Ordinarily, when you encounter a perceived danger, your body releases a flood of hormones that prepare you to either confront the stressor or run away from it.
While most people return to their baseline level after the risk has passed, some people cannot relax. They remain in a constant state of being tense, nervous and on edge. This frequent or prolonged stress can be mentally and physically harmful.
Our understanding of the mind-body connection continues evolving, and this growing awareness has sparked a national conversation about what causes stress and how people experience it. While there is a positive form of stress, called eustress, being anxious and overwhelmed can have severe physical and mental consequences.
You can think of your fight-or-flight response as an alarm system that sends a series of signals to your adrenal glands. The two hormones involved in your instinctive reaction to stress are adrenaline and cortisol. If these hormone levels stay high for too long, you could have health problems like these.
The types of stress are acute, episodic acute and chronic.
Acute stress is a short-lived, immediate reaction to a novel or challenging situation. Acutely stressful encounters aren’t generally harmful and can even be beneficial by helping you practice how you respond in difficult circumstances. Once the danger passes, you should be able to relax and return to normal. However, severe acute stress can lead to trauma.
If you frequently experience periods of acute stress, mental health professionals call it episodic acute stress. People in challenging professions, such as military service members and first responders, are likely to be familiar with this condition.
Long-term or chronic stress is when you have consistently elevated adrenaline and cortisol levels. Chronic stress is a health concern because it can cause anxiety, depression, substance use disorders, insomnia and body aches, among other issues.
A dual diagnosis of a mental health condition and an addiction to alcohol or drugs can make your life more challenging in a myriad of ways. At Beach House Center for Recovery, we offer high standards of care for anyone struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring mental disorders. Our therapists understand how the two components of a dual diagnosis magnify each other and have ripple effects that impact your relationships, livelihood and overall well-being.
To learn more about our evidence-based practices, industry-leading therapist-to-client ratio and all the other factors that make us one of America’s top treatment centers, help is only a phone call away. Our expert admissions counselors are here for you 24/7 when you need to talk to someone who understands.
Whether you’re researching for yourself or a loved one, Beach House can help. We understand that this is a serious time in your life and that the treatment center you choose matters. We want you to feel comfortable and empowered to make the right decision for yourself, a friend, or a family member. This is why a counselor is waiting and available to answer your questions and help put your mind at ease regarding the next steps. Many of the staff at Beach House have walked in your shoes. If you feel you’re ready or want more information about how to help a loved one, we can help today. You can also learn why we are voted the #1 rehab for addiction treatment in Florida.
