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Kylee Campbell

Professor Barros

ENGL 1113

8 April 2017

Cause and Effects of Stress

It's a dark and rainy Monday morning. You've hit the snooze button twelve times, and

now you have to be at work in ten minutes. Once you've gotten out the door, gotten mud on your

pants, and have filled your car with gas you're officially late. At work you have piles of paper

work, an angry boss, and you've forgotten your lunch at home. Now this all sounds pretty bad, or

as we would say, it sounds pretty stressful. Stress can be caused by numerous things, and the

effects it has on the body can be very unfavorable. In this essay, we will take a closer look at the

causes and effects of stress to get a better understanding of them, and how they affect people.

Stress is an issue that affects all people no matter their age, job, or location. Some people

are under more stress than others, and people experience different types of stress every day.

There are two classified types of stress: acute and chronic. Acute stress comes and passes

quickly. The doctors at MedlinePlus give the example of slamming on your brakes, or having a

quick fight as an example of acute stress. However, chronic stress is long, drawn out, and keeps

building. Some examples of chronic stress are as follows: having a child with cancer, being

unemployed, or any stressful situation that goes on for long periods of time. Stress can cause

changes in your mood, body, and even alter your behavior. If left untreated, stress can lead to

anxiety disorders, and severe health problems.

The triggers for stress are as numerous as the stars in the sky. Every person can be

stressed out by something different. At the top of the chart for stress causes are: getting married
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or divorced, losing a job, or problems at work (MedlinePlus 1). These causes of stress can start

off acute, but can push into chronic very quickly if the problem is not solved or managed.

Stress from getting married could come in many forms. Some couples would worry over

the perfect wedding, getting it all planned, and paid for. To some people, a wedding must be

absolutely perfect. However, when things go wrong, or money gets tight it can become a cause

of strain. Getting married can be stressful in other ways that could lead to chronic anxiety. If

finances are tight, or if there is a disapproving family member it can make things very difficult.

Though stress from getting married could be bad, the stress in a divorce, especially when

children are involved, is much worse. Divorce is not only a cause of anxiety for adults, it is a

cause of stress for children as well. It can cause prenatal stress, a strain between the child-parent

relationship, and in the unborn it can cause delayed motor skills and cognitive abilities (Pruter

and Heidenreich 2 and 3).

Job insecurity or having problems at work can cause stress. Losing a job will cause

worries about the future, and if you will be able to find a new area of employment. Problems at

work that also can be stressful: harassment, bullying, dislike for co-workers or a boss can all

contribute to these problems. Work related tension can be very difficult and cause people to feel

trapped or overwhelmed.

Now that we have discussed a few of the causes of stress I want to focus on the effects

stress has on people. The Mayo Clinic breaks stress effects into three categories: body, mood,

and behavior. Stress can build up and over all change you as a person. "Stress symptoms can

affect your body, your thoughts and feelings, and your behavior."(Mayo Clinic 1). It is important

to be able to identify stress effects, so that you are able to control them.
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Effects from stress that are evident on the body can be headaches, muscle pain, sleep

problems, upset stomach, and chest pains (Mayo Clinic 1). Stress has even been linked to more

serious problems like high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, and skin issues (MedlinePlus

1). In children, effects from stress can be even more traumatic and long term. "Along with stress

causing delays in motor development and altering other vital parts of a childs growth, early

stress in infants can permanently alter the way these individuals will handle stress throughout

their lives." (Pruter and Heidenreich 2).

Stress can directly impact a person's mood and how they feel. When under great amounts

of stress feelings of anxiety, being overwhelmed, depression, and lack of motivation are

common. When a person is stressed the body releases a hormone called cortisol (Pruter and

Heidenreich 3); this hormone helps with the fight-or-flight defense of the body. However, when

the body is exposed to cortisol for long periods of time, it has negative effects both on mood and

behavior.

In both young children and adults, worry affects a person's behavior. When a child has

gone under stress, and has had a lengthy exposure to the hormone cortisol it can have long term

effects. In the Handbook of Stress : Causes, Effects and Control, it is written "Increased

amounts of cortisol can have negative effects on people, especially children. These effects can

include creating higher chances of anxiety disorders, withdrawal, social wariness, and extreme

behavioral inhibition" (Pruter and Heidenreich 2). Behavioral issues can include eating disorders,

anger issues, drug and alcohol abuse, being socially withdrawn, and not doing activities the

person would normally enjoy doing (Mayo Clinic 1). Behavior problems can then lead back to

problems in mood and health, making a continuous cycle of stress induced problems.
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It is important to realize there are people of all ages that are being overwhelmed by stress.

The causes are different for every person because everyone is unique. People who are

experiencing anxiety need to have support and understanding, as they go through this difficult

time in their life. If we know someone who is dealing with anxiety it is important to reach out to

that person. The effects from chronic stress can be very negative and change a person entirely.

The Mayo Clinic encourages people who are dealing with stress to surround themselves with

friends and family, to do activities they enjoy, and to maintain an active lifestyle in order to

reduce stress.
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Works Cited

Mayo Clinic Staff,. "Stress Symptoms: Effects On Your Body And Behavior - Mayo Clinic".

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER) 2016. Web. 28 Apr.

2016.

Heidenreich, Pascal, and Isidor, Pruter. Handbook of Stress : Causes, Effects and Control. New

York: Nova Science Publishers, 2009. Pg. 1-3. Print.

"Stress And Your Health: Medlineplus Medical Encyclopedia". U.S National Library of

Medicine, A.D.A.M. 2017. Web. 3 Nov. 2016.