You may also become easily irritated and feel excessively overwhelmed and underwhelmed at the same time. Chronic stress might decrease your ability to focus and stay motivated, leading to unproductivity at work. It can also dull your problem-solving skills, increase your fear over minor issues, cause you to make bad decisions, and even lead to suicidal thoughts in rare cases. 
Everyone has different stress triggers, and a wide range of things can cause the condition. Stressors can either be a situation, an object, a person, or even a thought.

Situations like debt, a loss of a job, or relationship or marital problems are some of the leading causes of stress. A recent study by the American Psychologist Association showed that 49% of the respondents cited their job stability as their major stressor. 

Other causes of chronic stress include:

• Divorce
• Poverty
• Chronic illness or injury
• Getting married
• Low self-esteem 
• Emotional problems
• Taking care of an elderly or sick member of the family
• Traumatic life experiences such as natural disasters, theft, rape, or any form of violence
• Loneliness

From the epidemic to economic difficulties, social unrest, and new working restrictions, there seems to be a constant inflow of reasons to be stressed. Chronic stress continues to be a major cause of depression, anxiety, and physical burnout. 

About 55% of Americans say they are stressed, and 94% of workers experience chronic stress in their workplace, according to the American Institute of Stress.

Stressful events are unavoidable in anyone's life, but we humans are good at facing and solving stressful situations. Humans can respond to stress and sometimes remove it automatically, but with growing life challenges, these stressful situations have become more complex and difficult to handle.

While stress can have its benefits, such as motivating you and improving your problem-solving ability, too much pressure is dangerous and can negatively impact your general well-being. It becomes a major concern when it affects your day-to-day function and relationship with others.

Stress is a biological response and your body's natural defense against imagined or real danger. Your body undergoes many changes when you are under stress as the endocrine system becomes heavily disturbed and burdened. Stress triggers many signals from the hormones and nerves, causing your adrenal glands to release cortisol and adrenaline.

Cortisol, the body's stress response, is responsible for the increase in your heart rate, resulting in an immediate surge of power to respond in a “fight or flight” environment. This is why people under stress feel disturbed and hyperactive until the cause of the stress is removed.

Unlike everyday stress that comes and goes, chronic stress is persistent and can span several weeks to years if not resolved. In chronic stress, the individual produces the same destabilizing symptoms, and your nervous system cannot activate a relaxation response after every stressful episode. 

As people constantly worry about one thing or the other, the endocrine system continually secretes cortisol, the stress hormone designed to help us in life-threatening situations like accidents. This can eventually wear down their bodies and negatively impact their mental and physical health.

The sources or causes of stress differ and can be categorized into four different types:

• Work stress. It’s a common type of stress that affects thousands of people. Сhallenges, busy working schedules, horrible bosses or colleagues, or unemployment can give rise to chronic stress. 
• Emotional stress. This type is a reaction to all the pressures of life and can be hard to identify. However, depression, social awkwardness, anger, and frustration are clear symptoms of emotional stress.
• Relationship stress. It is often a result of strained relationships between friends and families and the inability to communicate properly with loved ones, leading to frustration, depression, loneliness, sadness, and mood swings.
• Environmental stress. The surroundings can contribute negatively to a person's physical and psychological behavior. This kind of stress is the response based on the environmental stimulus in the workplace or home. 

People can suffer from one or all types of stress, as one kind of stress can cause another. 

Chronic stress exposes you to many health risks affecting the body and the mind. These health risks are usually long-term, condemning the person to lifelong dependence on medications. 

Some of the health conditions chronic stress can cause include:

• Mental health disorders like anxiety and depression
• High blood pressure, heart attack, or stroke
• Obesity
• Hair loss
• Skin conditions (psoriasis, acne, or eczema)
• Gastritis
• Libido decline
• Immune disorders

If you realize you are suffering from chronic stress, you must get treated immediately by consulting a medical professional or engaging in activities that can help promote your healing. 

Immediate treatment is important, as the more you delay, the more risk you are likely to face.
There are many methods of treatment that can help those suffering from chronic stress. These treatments may include using medications or therapy that targets necessary hormones and keeps your body and mind safe. 

Psychotherapy is a popular chronic stress treatment that helps control a person's stress level to help improve their day-to-day function. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), for example, enables you to focus on new perspectives that help you regain control of your mind and teaches you how to manage stress efficiently.

Sometimes, you may be prescribed medications to manage the symptoms. They act like tranquilizers and get you at rest once they start working. Stress medications can only be recommended by doctors or medical practitioners as overuse can cause further damage to the body.

Although psychotherapy and medications work well as a treatment, they are not the first thing you should try if you’re constantly stressed. Implementing lifestyle changes and learning to find the connection between your thoughts and emotions can go a long way. Such things as meditation, yoga, or a healthy diet can help you build a connection between your mind and body. And if you get the hang of basic stress management techniques, you can eventually learn to stay calm in any situation.

Chronic stress affects every system in the body, be it directly or indirectly. It can lead to many health consequences and worsen the overall quality of life.
Feeling worried or stressed because of big changes in your life, before an important event, or while being uncertain about your future is entirely normal. However, chronic stress makes it difficult to cope with basic daily activities and enjoy life. 

Chronic stress is not always easy to diagnose, and some individuals often grow accustomed to it with time, believing the feeling is normal. Sometimes, the symptoms can be confused with other diseases.

If you’re dealing with chronic stress, you will experience both psychological and physical symptoms. 

• Irritability
• Difficulty concentrating
• Nervousness and anxiety
• Decreased energy levels
• Constant fatigue
• Disorganized thinking
• Feeling helpless
• Feeling a loss of control

Feeling depressed or overly anxious is a physiological symptom of chronic stress that should not be overlooked. This feeling increases when the stressor is present or near you. In addition to being depressed, chronic stress also puts you in a constant bad mood as you get angry easily and feel restless. 

You may also become easily irritated and feel excessively overwhelmed and underwhelmed at the same time. Chronic stress might decrease your ability to focus and stay motivated, leading to unproductivity at work. It can also dull your problem-solving skills, increase your fear over minor issues, cause you to make bad decisions, and even lead to suicidal thoughts in rare cases. 

Everyone has different stress triggers, and a wide range of things can cause the condition. Stressors can either be a situation, an object, a person, or even a thought.

Situations like debt, a loss of a job, or relationship or marital problems are some of the leading causes of stress. A recent study by the American Psychologist Association showed that 49% of the respondents cited their job stability as their major stressor. 

Other causes of chronic stress include:

• Divorce
• Poverty
• Chronic illness or injury
• Getting married
• Low self-esteem 
• Emotional problems
• Taking care of an elderly or sick member of the family
• Traumatic life experiences such as natural disasters, theft, rape, or any form of violence
• Loneliness

The sources or causes of stress differ and can be categorized into four different types:

• Work stress. It’s a common type of stress that affects thousands of people. Сhallenges, busy working schedules, horrible bosses or colleagues, or unemployment can give rise to chronic stress. 
• Emotional stress. This type is a reaction to all the pressures of life and can be hard to identify. However, depression, social awkwardness, anger, and frustration are clear symptoms of emotional stress.
• Relationship stress. It is often a result of strained relationships between friends and families and the inability to communicate properly with loved ones, leading to frustration, depression, loneliness, sadness, and mood swings.
• Environmental stress. The surroundings can contribute negatively to a person's physical and psychological behavior. This kind of stress is the response based on the environmental stimulus in the workplace or home. 

People can suffer from one or all types of stress, as one kind of stress can cause another. 

Chronic stress exposes you to many health risks affecting the body and the mind. These health risks are usually long-term, condemning the person to lifelong dependence on medications. 

Some of the health conditions chronic stress can cause include: 

• Mental health disorders like anxiety and depression
• High blood pressure, heart attack, or stroke
• Obesity
• Hair loss
• Skin conditions (psoriasis, acne, or eczema)
• Gastritis
• Libido decline
• Immune disorders

If you realize you are suffering from chronic stress, you must get treated immediately by consulting a medical professional or engaging in activities that can help promote your healing. 

Immediate treatment is important, as the more you delay, the more risk you are likely to face.

There are many methods of treatment that can help those suffering from chronic stress. These treatments may include using medications or therapy that targets necessary hormones and keeps your body and mind safe. 

Psychotherapy is a popular chronic stress treatment that helps control a person's stress level to help improve their day-to-day function. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), for example, enables you to focus on new perspectives that help you regain control of your mind and teaches you how to manage stress efficiently.

Sometimes, you may be prescribed medications to manage the symptoms. They act like tranquilizers and get you at rest once they start working. Stress medications can only be recommended by doctors or medical practitioners as overuse can cause further damage to the body.

Although psychotherapy and medications work well as a treatment, they are not the first thing you should try if you’re constantly stressed. Implementing lifestyle changes and learning to find the connection between your thoughts and emotions can go a long way. Such things as meditation, yoga, or a healthy diet can help you build a connection between your mind and body. And if you get the hang of basic stress management techniques, you can eventually learn to stay calm in any situation.

Exercise is another treatment for chronic stress that has been proven to help thousands of people. Not only does it improve your mood, but it can also pump up the levels of endorphins – neurotransmitters that promote feelings of pleasure. Jogging, lifting weights, yoga, and rope flow are some of the exercises that can treat chronic stress.

Exercising is the perfect way of relaxing and is one of the most effective treatments for chronic stress. While you exercise, your body releases hormones and stimulates endorphins that promote relaxation and get you calmer. 

Unlike cortisol, the hormone that gets us pumped and ready to flee in dangerous situations, endorphins are natural painkillers and mood elevators that benefit the body. 

The more endorphins your body releases during exercise, the more relaxed and calm you will be. Exercise like flow rope is perfect for relieving stress as it combines jumping rope and dancing. Rope flow is a fun way of exercising, improving stability, and reducing stress and anxiety. 

Rope flow is a combination of meditation and aerobic exercise that can help reduce stress as it gives you a sense of calm, peace, and balance while you maintain rhythm. It relaxes your body and allows you to refocus on other things, removing your mind from what stresses you.

While practicing flow rope, you need to fully concentrate on the present moment and where your rope is leading you. It puts you in a flow state – a frame of mind when the activity you engage in takes up all of your attention. Rope flow can help you deal with chronic stress as you build a positive mind-body connection, and you will not need any medications. In addition to mental health benefits, such exercises also improve joint mobility, strengthen muscles, and can become a decent replacement for regular gym workouts. 

To see the benefits of rope flow, the first thing you need is a rope. Octomoves currently offers four types of flow ropes, and you can choose the one that suits you more. As a beginner, you might struggle with understanding how to use it properly, but we’ve got you covered. You can access our training modules for 7 days for free and get a chance to receive feedback from our coaches. 

Not sure if it’s your thing yet? Try rope flow without a rope – use your jacket instead! Just follow the instructions on the video and get a feel of what it’s like.