Stress Management What Is Acute Stress? Learn About This Common Occurrence By Elizabeth Scott, PhD Elizabeth Scott, PhD Elizabeth Scott, PhD is an author, workshop leader, educator, and award-winning blogger on stress management, positive psychology, relationships, and emotional wellbeing. Learn about our editorial process Updated on October 01, 2023 Medically reviewed Verywell Mind articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and mental healthcare professionals. Medical Reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Daniel B. Block, MD Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD Daniel B. Block, MD, is an award-winning, board-certified psychiatrist who operates a private practice in Pennsylvania. Learn about our Medical Review Board Print Acute stress isn't serious, but it can build up. Here's how to manage it. Annie Engel/Cultura/Getty Images Trending Videos Close this video player Acute stress is what you feel in the face of an immediate threat. It's among the most common types of stress, experienced by most people a few times each day. These threats might be real or imagined and come in physical, emotional, and psychological forms. Perceived Stress Equals Real Stress Mild stressors can be simple, ordinary occurrences, such as an alarm clock going off, a new assignment at work, or even the momentary loss of your phone. Acute stress also can be more serious—for example, arguing with a friend, taking a test, or being pulled over for speeding. Whether the threat is real or imagined doesn't matter; it's the perception that triggers the stress response. What Happens in Acute Stress? During an acute stress response, the autonomic nervous system is activated. Levels of cortisol, adrenaline, and other hormones rise and increase the heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. Blood is shunted from the extremities to the big muscles, preparing the body to fight or run away. This is also known as the fight-or-flight response. Stress and the Body During an acute stress response, the autonomic nervous system is activated. Levels of cortisol, adrenaline, and other hormones rise and increase the heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. Acute stress is easily managed because it occurs, and then it's over. It doesn't wreak the same havoc that chronic stress does because recovery is relatively fast and easy. Simple relaxation techniques can help. What You Can Do: Strategies for Managing Stress Chronic, prolonged stress—or repeated instances of acute stress—can take a bigger toll. A constant state of heightened anxiety can have effects on mental and physical health, so a stress management plan is important. The following strategies can help keep acute stress from becoming a problem Avoid Stress Triggers Staying away from the little things that always stress you—your tolerations—can help. You can't eliminate all stress (nor would you want to), but avoiding unnecessary, pointless aggravation can reap big benefits. Acute Stress Disorder—What to Know About This *Intense* Stress After Trauma Learn Relaxation Techniques Find ways to relax your body and calm your mind. You can't always predict the stressors in your life, but you can reverse your stress response by having a few tactics at the ready. 18 Effective Stress Relief Strategies Adopt Resilience-Building Habits Habits such as meditation and exercise have been shown to help manage both acute and chronic stress. A morning yoga stretch, a walk in the woods, a self-help podcast during a long drive—whatever relaxes you can help build resilience to stress. 4 Sources Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. US National Library of Medicine. Stress. Shrand J, Devine L. Manage Your Stress: Overcoming Stress in the Modern World. St. Martin’s Press. 2012. Thoma MV, La Marca R, Brönnimann R, Finkel L, Ehlert U, Nater UM. The effect of music on the human stress response. PLoS ONE. 2013;(8)8:e70156. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0070156 De Bruin EI, Formsma AR, Frijstein G, Bögels SM. Mindful2Work: Effects of Combined Physical Exercise, Yoga, and Mindfulness Meditations for Stress Relieve in Employees. A Proof of Concept Study. Mindfulness (N Y). 2017;(8)1:204-217. doi:10.1007/s12671-016-0593-x By Elizabeth Scott, PhD Elizabeth Scott, PhD is an author, workshop leader, educator, and award-winning blogger on stress management, positive psychology, relationships, and emotional wellbeing. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Helpful Report an Error Other Submit