急性与慢性压力

The experience of stress can be either acute or chronic. Acute stress usually occurs in response to a short-term stressor, like a car accident or an argument with your spouse. Acute stress can be very distressing, but it passes quickly and typically responds well to coping techniques like calming breathing or brisk physical activity.

Chronic stress occurs when stressors don’t let up. The roots of chronic stress can vary widely, from situations people can control or avoid (such as having a toxic friendship) to difficulties that are hard to escape (poverty, racism, or other discrimination). Because people respond differently to stressful circumstances, a situation that one person might find tolerable can become a source of chronic stress for another.

Chronic stress can damage both mental and physical health. Being chronically stressed may leave you feeling fatigued, sap your ability to concentrate, and cause headaches and digestive difficulties. People prone to irritable bowel syndrome often find that their symptoms spike with psychological stress. Though acute stress can heighten certain immune responses, the wear-and-tear of chronic stress is bad for the immune system. Chronic stress can also affect cardiac health, with multiple studies finding a link between chronic stress and the development of coronary artery disease.

压力体验可分为急性压力和慢性压力。急性压力通常由短期应激源引发，比如车祸或与配偶争吵。急性压力可能非常令人不安，但它会很快消退，通常对冷静呼吸或快节奏的体育活动等应对技巧反应良好。

当应激源持续不断时，就会产生慢性压力。慢性压力的根源多种多样，从人们可以控制或避免的情况（如拥有有毒的友谊）到难以摆脱的困境（贫困、种族主义或其他歧视）。由于人们对压力情境的反应各不相同，对一个人来说可以忍受的情况，对另一个人来说可能会成为慢性压力的来源。

慢性压力会对身心健康造成损害。长期处于压力状态下，人可能会感到疲劳，注意力集中能力下降，并出现头痛和消化困难。易患肠易激综合征的人往往发现，其症状会在心理压力下加剧。虽然急性压力可能会增强某些免疫反应，但慢性压力的累积损耗对免疫系统不利。慢性压力还会影响心脏健康，多项研究发现慢性压力与冠状动脉疾病的发展之间存在关联。