Our Los Gatos personal fitness trainers want to know... how many kinds of stress are you dealing with right now? (There are SIX major types of it.) Stress is like a double-edged sword for our health. In manageable doses, it can actually be good for you and boost your resilience. It can motivate you to push forward to new heights and it can boost your focus and energy. It can even make your body release hormones to raise our performance, both mentally and physically. But too much stress has the opposite effect. It can affect your mood, your sleep, and your overall health. It’s linked with high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, and more. Having an outlet to manage stress (like exercise!) is a major component of living a healthy lifestyle. Recognizing stress is the first step to managing it! 6 Most Common Types of Stress: 1. Acute stress: The most common form of stress, it’s usually a response to an immediate challenge. This could be something like speaking to a group, dealing with a one-time difficult situation, or taking a test. Feeling this kind of stress can actually be helpful because it keeps you alert and focused. 2. Episodic acute stress: This is when you have a lot of acute stress in your life, like a high-stress job or when you’re juggling a lot of responsibilities and challenges at the same time. Our Los Gatos personal fitness trainers meet clients struggling with this all the time. Unfortunately, if this type of stress lasts too long, it can affect your health. 3. Chronic stress: This takes that acute stress and stretches it out over a long period of time with little to no break. Common causes include a difficult job, money problems, relationship problems, etc. Chronic stress can have severe effects on your physical and mental health. 4. Traumatic stress: This occurs when something bad happens, like an accident, natural disaster, or violence. It can cause long-lasting emotional & psychological effects. 5. Psychological stress: This is when you experience negative thoughts, depression/hopelessness, and low self-esteem. It can be caused by trauma or chronic stress. 6. Physiological stress: This is caused by physical problems like medical problems, illness, or injuries. It doesn’t only affect your body, but also your mental and emotional well-being, and over time it can turn into chronic stress. While it’s important to recognize and manage stress on your own, it’s also important to seek help when needed. For some people, stress can become too severe and overwhelming to manage on their own. That’s where professionals come in. There are resources and trained professionals who can help individuals deal with the most severe types of stress, including traumatic stress and chronic stress. Don’t hesitate to seek out help if you feel like stress is taking over your life. Remember that taking care of your mental health is just as important as taking care of your physical health. Our Los Gatos personal fitness trainers encourage you to prioritize your well-being and seek help when needed. Remember, self-care is not selfish, it’s necessary! Wishing you a stress-free and fulfilling day, The Method3 Fitness Team If you’re someone who is looking to transform their health and fitness and struggling to do it alone, and you want to see if Method3's personal training and nutrition coaching program could help you achieve your goals call us today at (408)371-1212 to see exactly what the process looks like for you and if it’s the right fit for your goals! Our team of experienced and dedicated Los Gatos personal fitness trainers are ready to work with you to help you take control of your health and fitness journey and achieve the results you want. Method3 Fitness is conveniently located in San Jose. Our team of personal fitness trainers serve clients in Los Gatos, Campbell, Willow Glen and other surrounding Bay Area cities. If you found this blog useful, be sure to let us know and SHARE it on your favorite channel! The Method3 Fitness blog is updated weekly by our San Jose personal fitness trainers. All content is designed to improve the way you move, eat, and think so you can achieve your goals and live stronger for today. Check back here each week and LIKE our Fan Page, to stay up to date on the latest tips, strategies and methods to get active, gain energy and get healthy again!