Stress has many sources. Mild stress can result from missing the bus, standing in a long line at the store or getting a parking ticket. Stress also can be severe. Things like divorce or family problems, an attack by a thief, or the death of a loved one can be devastating. One of the most common sources of stress, both mild and severe, is work.
Acute stress is a reaction to an immediate threat or situation perceived as such.
However, everyday life poses ongoing situations that aren't short-lived, such as relationship problems, loneliness and financial or health worries. The pressures may seem unrelenting and they can cause chronic stress. However, people have a frontline of defense for avoiding or minimizing the effects of stress. When a person's behavior is ineffective, a physical stress response occurs to meet the energy demands of the situation. First, the stress hormone, adrenaline, is released.