In most cases, these responses will worsen already existing health problems.

Experts have identified three kinds of stress:

Acute Stress

This is the most common form. Two key words that relate to acute stress are demands and pressures. These either come from current or past demands and pressures in your life.

It is important not to lose focus on realistic outcomes for these demands and pressures. For example, if you are able to perform well on a ski slope in the early morning, you may not achieve the same performance later in the day. You are not a machine – your body will react if it is taxed with too much stress!

Acute stress is usually short-term and the symptoms that accompany it don’t usually cause damage to your body.

Symptoms of acute stress include:

• tension, muscle soreness, aches and pains
• anger, loss of patience, depression
• digestive problems, heartburn, changes in bowel function (e.g., diarrhea, constipation)
• migraines, changes in heart rate, blood pressure
• shortness of breath, chest pain