Stress Statistics

Both biological stress and anxiety almost mean the same thing. They are both negative responses to undesirable stimuli which then manifest fear, anger, or irritability. Stress is generally defined as a main human response to external or abstract stimulants (stressors) which include tardiness, congested traffic, financial constraints, and quarrelling. On the other hand, anxiety is a feeling of fear or apprehension as a product of uncertainty and uneasiness which manifests fear or panic; therefore it is noted as the fear of the unknown. So, their main difference is the source of their negative responses: stress originating from a specific and defined stimulant, while anxiety on the other hand originating from unknown outcome of situations. Stress is categorized as chronic, eustress, and workplace. Such negative response sometimes presents a couple of physical and social manifestations that can be directly observed from a person suffering from it. The most common symptoms are the following:

• Depression

• Social isolation

• Abdominal pain

• Headache

• Lack of enough sleep

• Poor concentration

• Upset stomach

• Intense mood swings

• Hypertension

1. Chronic – this type of pressure is diagnosed if such case already lasts for more than 6 months. The root cause is not controllable by the person therefore it happens involuntarily. It is already organic in nature which means corticosteroid hormones of the endocrine system are already involved. If this persists, a person’s physical and mental health is really at risk.
2. Eustress – Having originated from the Greek word “eu” meaning “good” and the root word stress, Eustress on the other hand is regarded as the good type because it relates to a person’s desirable things in life; therefore it is simply a strong drive – a motivation. Visible symptoms can be present such as increased heart rate and other stress-related manifestations, but all are due to “excitement” that your personal objectives drive you at.
3. Workplace – this type is a negative physical or emotional response that can either be serious or not, depending on the intensity of the work demands. This shows incompatible match between the worker’s capacity and the workload.

Stress is faced by everyone on a daily basis, and with it comes anxiety as well; these two can always co-exist which is why it is really important that the person having these are completely aware and not in denial so he or she could perform effective stress management.

1. Mild – as its name implies, this is the least serious initial stage. It happens upon immediate contact to a stimulus. An example is the rush felt when you see your crush and when he or she asks for your number.
2. Moderate – this is slightly more intense, but is still considered good anxiety because same as eustress, this serves as a motivating anxiety.An example of this is your upcoming major exam or weekly job performance review.
   
3. Severe – this is the worst type because people with this are not properly functional anymore. Their anxiety gets in the way of their work and daily self-care tasks such as eating, sleeping, and bathing.This is closely associated with psychosis and neurosis.
   

Now that we know that stress and anxiety can be a cause of major illnesses that may greatly contribute to decreased societal productivity, we must know the statistics that prove such. Hopefully through this we will be aware enough to pay more attention to personal stress management, because it really should not be taken for granted.