Psychological stress is caused by internal responses to external events and can have negative physical, emotional, and behavioral effects. Events outside of personal control, such as the death of loved ones or job loss, can trigger stress. Counseling and medication are treatment options.
Psychological stress is a tension affecting the intangible self, caused by problems with adjustment, perception and emotions. While this form of stress can be triggered by external events, the source of the stress is internal, located within the psyche and related to an individual’s internal responses to physical or atmospheric stimuli. Psychological stress attacks can be long- or short-term, depending on how far apart the triggering events are or if the stressful events are piling up without resolution. Stress levels are also influenced by an individual’s sensitivity and coping skills, as well as a subjective perception of how traumatic an event can be.
Events that can cause psychological distress are those that seem outside the realm of personal control, pose an inherent threat to well-being, create social vulnerability, or chronically disrupt daily life routines. The death of family or friends, the loss of a job, surviving a natural disaster, and the end of a relationship are life events that can place stress on the psyche of adults. For children or adolescents, events such as moving house, school failure and bullying can generate psychological stress. Research shows that a general sense of isolation, lack of support, and constant conflict or friction are typical contexts of stress among all age groups. Sexual problems, financial problems, and abuse, both emotional and physical, are other typical sources of psychological stress.
There are many negative physical, behavioral, and emotional side effects of psychological stress, including insomnia, illness, high blood pressure, and social or emotional disturbances. Physical health outcomes often linked to long periods of psychological stress include a suppressed immune system along with regular colds, cardiovascular problems, asthma, and an imbalanced endocrine system. Any latent infections, such as herpes, are aggravated during psychological stress. Emotional health effects include depression, hostility, and low self-esteem.
Destructive behavioral habits that could develop during times of psychological stress are overeating, smoking, and addiction to alcohol or drugs. The duration of psychological stress determines the extent of these side effects. Temporary stress from events with perceived impacts less than a month ago is not as likely to produce extreme side effects; acute and chronic stress that lasts for several months or years poses the greatest risk of physical, emotional, and behavioral side effects.
Counseling from psychologists or psychiatrists and medications are among the treatment options. The psychologist generally evaluates the stress on the psyche through a series of tests and interviews, evaluating the level of stress according to a checklist or a professional scale, such as the Stress Appraisal Measure (SAM) or the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Therapists also teach coping strategies and connect patients to community support groups.
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