CHRONIC & ACUTE STRESS IN MENTAL HEALTH

Chronic
stress occurs where an individual is subject to successive stress producing
events, e.g. a battered wife in a domestic situation. While violence might only
occur occasionally, its prospect is always close at hand.

Acute
stress arises from more catastrophic events which are sudden and immediate
(e.g. death of a spouse or child, personal injury or illness, divorce, etc.)

In this
case, even though the actual cause of stress could be sudden and short lived,
its effects could persist for a long time.

Not all stressful events have a dramatic effect. There are however certain life events which have a mild stressful effect which you might not be aware of. The addition of a new member to a family, a job promotion, change in diet or sleeping pattern, or even the Christmas season can cause minor stress. Minor stressors or “hassles” are not catastrophic, but can be damaging because they…