.webp)
Instructions for using the services
Read more
Stress
Stress can cause physical and psychological symptoms. Consult a physician if your stress persists for a long time, you lose the feeling of control or experience significant difficulties in coping with everyday challenges.
Customer service and booking
010 414 0200 (local network rate/mobile charge)
Stress in brief
- Stress is a reaction of the body and mind to external pressures. It can be short- or long-term and affect one’s physical and mental well-being.
- A small amount of stress can act as a driving force, but when stress starts to consume resources and reduce functional capacity, it becomes harmful.
- It is crucial to recognise the effects of stress and strive to restore the balance between external demands and your own resources.
Related services
First mental well-being appointment EUR 89
Take an easy first step to mental well-being services. You can make an appointment quickly – without a referral.
Kela-reimbursed rehabilitative psychotherapy
Psychotherapy service based on a psychiatrist’s assessment and granted by Kela for maintaining and rebuilding working and studying ability.
Psychotherapist
Provides treatment based on discussion and functional methods, which aims to improve mental well-being.
When is stress harmful?
Stress can be both a positive and negative experience. A small amount of stress can act as a driving force that helps us operate efficiently. However, stress becomes harmful when it starts to consume a person’s resources and reduce their work ability and functional capacity. This happens when one’s own resources and the demands of the environment are not in balance, and stress causes too much strain without sufficient recovery.
Harmful stress can manifest as physical and psychological symptoms when the balance is off. Stress is particularly harmful when it persists for a long time, as it can endanger health and impair functional capacity. It is crucial to recognise the effects of stress and strive to restore the balance between external demands and your own resources.
Symptoms of stress
The symptoms of stress can be divided into physical, psychological and social symptoms. It is difficult to set specific time limits for acute and chronic stress, but acute stress typically lasts from hours to days and chronic stress from months to years.
Physical symptoms of stress include:
- headache
- dizziness and heart palpitations
- nausea and gastrointestinal problems
- a frequent need to urinate
- sweating
- frequent colds
- back problems.
Psychological symptoms of stress include, for example:
- tension
- irritability
- restlessness
- anxiety
- depression
- problems with concentration and memory
- sleep disturbances.
Stress can also manifest as social interaction difficulties and lead to family and relationship problems. Serious long-term stress can lead to depression, burnout, substance abuse and, in the worst case, even self-destructive behaviour.
Stages of stress
The first stage of stress is known as the alarm stage, in which the body mobilises its resources to resist stressors by triggering a fight-or-flight response. At this stage, the autonomic nervous system reacts, which leads to muscle tension, an increased heart rate, rapid breathing, sweating and changes in bowel function.
If the stress continues, the body moves into the resistance stage. The body tries to adapt to the situation by boosting the immune system, for example. Typical symptoms at this stage include increased irritability and fatigue as well as difficulty concentrating and sleeping. In addition, recurrent or prolonged inflammatory diseases may occur.
If the resistance stage is prolonged, the individual’s resources are exhausted, which can lead to the exhaustion stage. This stage is characterised by emotional paralysis, insomnia and loss of enthusiasm, and can eventually lead to mental or physical illness.
Why do some people feel stress more intensely than others?
The way stress is experienced and manifested in the body varies from person to person due to several factors. These factors include:
- genetic predisposition
- environment
- cultural, psychological and biological factors.
Genetic predisposition can affect how sensitive a person is to stress. The environment also plays a role: for example, in an environment where physical illnesses are common, it is possible for stress to manifest as physical symptoms. Cultural factors can also affect the way stress is expressed. For example, in some cultures, it may be inappropriate to talk about psychological problems directly, which is why stress may be expressed as physical symptoms.
In addition, people’s ability to recognise and express their emotions varies. If an individual struggles with expressing their emotions, their stress may manifest as physical symptoms in particular. Therefore, the ability to recognise and express emotions can affect how strongly stress is experienced as physical symptoms.
When should you see a physician for stress?
Stress becomes harmful when it persists for longer periods and the sense of control is lost. If you feel that you are unable to control your own life or cope with everyday challenges, you should seek help. Prolonged stress can be dangerous and is associated with cardiovascular diseases, among other things.
It is important to consult an occupational health physician, occupational psychologist or therapist before your stress progresses to a severe exhaustion stage, which may significantly impair your functional capacity and work ability. If you are in doubt about what to do in your case, we recommend that you contact our customer service by calling +358 (0)10 414 00 (local network rate/mobile charge).
Other related services
First mental well-being appointment EUR 89
Take an easy first step to mental well-being services. You can make an appointment quickly – without a referral.
Kela-reimbursed rehabilitative psychotherapy
Psychotherapy service based on a psychiatrist’s assessment and granted by Kela for maintaining and rebuilding working and studying ability.
Psychotherapist
Provides treatment based on discussion and functional methods, which aims to improve mental well-being.
Frequently asked questions about stress
Stress can be managed with the help of social support and engaging in meaningful activities with friends and loved ones. Daily exercise is also an effective way to manage stress, if your health allows it. Maintaining a regular daily routine and employing stress management methods, such as relaxation exercises, can also help. If your stress level continues to be harmful, we recommend discussing your life situation with a therapist.
Stress can cause both physical and psychological symptoms. Physical symptoms include headaches, dizziness, heart palpitations, nausea, gastrointestinal problems, frequent urination, sweating, frequent colds and back problems. Psychological symptoms include tension, irritability, restlessness, anxiety, depression, concentration and memory problems, decision-making difficulties and sleep disturbances. Prolonged stress can lead to depression, burnout and substance abuse.
Stress is often caused by an imbalance between external demands and one’s own resources. It can arise, for example, from pressures in working life, financial worries, deteriorating health or social relationships. Changes in life, such as retirement or ageing, can also cause stress.
Yes, specialists have an obligation of confidentiality. Discussions with a specialist are confidential, and many find that having a neutral, external party to talk to is beneficial, as they can offer new perspectives.
It is possible to turn stress into a resource, but it is also advisable to try to reduce the causes of stress if possible. If the causes of stress cannot be eliminated, it is important to focus on your own resource factors and learn to manage stress. Stress can be seen as both a positive and negative experience, and it can act as a resource if managed well.
Yes, retirement and the approaching retirement years can cause stress. This is because retirement is associated with ageing, which can be a difficult reality to accept. Retirement can cause stress, especially if work and the related feelings of success and satisfaction have formed a central part of one’s life. It is important to make sure that there are other good things in life, apart from work, so that retirement will not be too stressful.
