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What Is Emotional Stress?
Emotional stress is the mental and physiological response to a perceived threat, challenge, or demand that taxes an individual’s coping resources. Emotional stress can manifest in a variety of ways, including feelings of anxiety, sadness, anger, frustration, or fear, and can affect an individual’s ability to function effectively in daily life.
The American Psychological Association (APA) defines emotional stress as “an unpleasant emotional state characterized by a pattern of psychological, physiological, and behavioral responses to a real or imagined stimulus that is perceived as threatening or challenging.”
While there are many types of stress, emotional stress is a specific type that is characterized by the perception of a threat or challenge to one’s emotional well-being. Unlike physical stress, which is caused by a direct physical threat or demand, emotional stress arises from a psychological or emotional stimulus.
Because emotional stress can emerge for a variety of reasons and in a variety of ways, understanding how it functions and how it can affect you is essential. All people will experience stress at different points in their lives; emotional stress is a common type that all people will encounter at some time. Understanding what it is and how it functions is an essential part of learning how to handle it properly and healthily.
7 Common Signs Of Emotional Stress
Emotional stress can manifest in a variety of ways, and the signs and symptoms can vary from person to person. However, some common signs of emotional stress can include…
1. A heightened sense of anxiety and worry.
Feeling anxious or worried, even in the absence of an actual threat or danger, can be a sign of emotional stress. If you notice your own senses of anxiety and worry escalating, it can be a sign that emotional stress is affecting you negatively.
2. Extreme mood swings and shifts.
Feeling anxious or worried, even in the absence of an actual threat or danger, can be a sign of emotional stress. If you notice your own senses of anxiety and worry escalating, it can be a sign that emotional stress is affecting you negatively.
3. Feeling physical symptoms.
Chronic emotional stress can lead to physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, or changes in appetite or sleep patterns. Take note of when you develop symptoms like these – they may be signs of emotional stress affecting your body.
4. Difficulty concentrating and focusing.
Emotional stress can interfere with an individual’s ability to concentrate or focus, making it harder to complete tasks or make decisions. When you’re emotionally stressed, the thought of focusing on anything else except your stressors can seem impossible.
5. Exhibiting avoidance behaviors.
Individuals who are experiencing emotional stress may avoid situations or activities that they perceive as stressful or threatening. Note whether or not you try to avoid anything in your life – it may be a source of emotional stress for you.
6. Withdrawing from social situations and environments.
Emotional stress can also lead to social withdrawal, as individuals may isolate themselves from friends and family. Rather than wanting to spend time with the people you love most, you may shy away from them, preferring to isolate.
7. Using substances as a self-soothing mechanism or means of escape.
Some individuals may turn to alcohol, drugs, or other substances as a way of coping with emotional stress. While these may seem like good, quick short-term solutions, they can have long-term negative consequences.
10 Negative Consequences Of Mismanaged Emotional Stress
1. Physical health problems.
Chronic emotional stress can lead to physical health problems, such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, digestive issues, and weakened immune function.
According to the American Psychological Association, this is because the body’s stress response system releases hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which can have a negative impact on the body over time. In short bursts, sudden releases of cortisol and adrenaline are helpful because they motivate a person to engage in a “flight, fight, or freeze” response.
However, if a person experiences bursts of these hormones repeatedly for a long period of time, they may suffer from some serious physical conditions. For example, chronic stress can cause the heart to work harder, leading to an increased risk of heart disease. It can also weaken the immune system, making it more difficult to fight off infections.
2. Mental health problems.
Emotional stress can also contribute to mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. This is because chronic stress can cause changes in the brain’s chemistry and structure, leading to imbalances in neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which can affect mood and behavior. Over time, these changes in mental health can become more established and more difficult to manage.
3. Impaired cognitive function.
Unmanaged emotional stress can impair cognitive function, making it harder to concentrate, remember things, focus on tasks, and make good decisions.
This is because the stress response can cause the prefrontal cortex (the part of the brain responsible for executive functions like decision-making and attention) to become less active, according to Bruce S. McEwen in his 2017 article Neurobiological and Systemic Effects of Chronic Stress, written for Sage Journals.
4. Impaired work and/or academic performance.
Emotional stress can interfere with an individual’s ability to perform well at work or school. This is because stress can cause distractions and reduce productivity, making it harder to focus and complete tasks efficiently. Over time, this can create even more stress within a person’s life as their academic or professional work performance begins to suffer.
5. Relationship Problems.
Unmanaged emotional stress can put a strain on relationships, as individuals may become irritable, withdrawn, or avoidant. This can lead to communication breakdowns and interpersonal conflict, damaging the quality of personal and professional relationships alike.
6. A lack of interest in hobbies and pastimes that were once enjoyable.
Unmanaged emotional stress can put a strain on relationships, as individuals may become irritable, withdrawn, or avoidant. This can lead to communication breakdowns and interpersonal conflict, damaging the quality of personal and professional relationships alike.
7. Difficulty processing and understanding emotions.
When you’re under serious emotional stress, you might find yourself struggling to really understand your emotions. You may not even want to try processing them – the idea of exploring and then working through big emotions may feel impossible to do. Unfortunately, the longer you avoid processing emotions, the bigger and more challenging they can become.
8. Feeling detached from other people.
Emotional stress can make social interaction feel like a chore. When you have the chance to be alone, you may choose that option rather than spending time with friends or family. Over time, this purposeful avoidance can lead to feelings of loneliness and even isolation.
9. An increased risk of making mistakes or getting into accidents.
When a person’s emotions are running high, they are far more likely to make mistakes or get into accidents. Intense emotions – and the stress that can cause them to mount – can cause people to think and act irrationally. Rather than being careful about what they’re doing, they might make a rash decision that can lead to serious consequences.
10. Decreased quality of life.
Unmanaged emotional stress can diminish an individual’s quality of life, hindering their ability to enjoy activities, maintain relationships, and achieve goals. It can make it hard to engage in activities that once brought joy, strain relationships, and hinder progress towards objectives.
To maintain overall well-being, it’s essential to develop effective coping strategies and seek support when needed.
Next week we will continue with Part 2 of our Emotional Stress series by looking at 10 Benefits of Managing Stress That Effects Emotional Health, and 15 Ways To Identify Sources of Emotional Stress Within Your Life.
References
McEwen, B. S. (2017). Neurobiological and systemic effects of chronic stress. Chronic stress (Thousand Oaks, Calif.), 1, 2470547017692328.
https://doi.org/10.1177/2470547017692328
