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Mental Stress: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Mental stress refers to psychological demands placed on a person that can affect their well-being, performance, and overall health.

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Things worth knowing about "Mental Stress"

Mental stress refers to psychological demands placed on a person that can affect their well-being, performance, and overall health.

What is Mental Stress?

Mental stress (also referred to as psychological stress) describes all external influences and demands that act upon a person and trigger psychological responses. The term is widely used in occupational health psychology and is defined in the standard DIN EN ISO 10075. A key distinction is made between the stress itself – the external factors – and the strain, which describes the individual response to those factors.

Causes and Triggers

Mental stress can arise from a wide range of factors across different areas of life:

Occupational factors: Time pressure, high responsibility, multitasking, workplace conflicts, shift work
Social factors: Relationship difficulties, family conflicts, social isolation, caregiving responsibilities
Personal factors: Personality traits, perfectionism, poor coping skills
Societal factors: Financial worries, uncertainty, information overload, digital stress
Health-related factors: Chronic illness, sleep deprivation, hormonal changes

Symptoms and Effects

Prolonged mental stress can manifest on physical, emotional, and cognitive levels:

Physical Symptoms

Headaches and muscle tension
Sleep disturbances and fatigue
Gastrointestinal complaints
Weakened immune system and increased susceptibility to infections

Emotional Symptoms

Irritability, anxiety, and inner restlessness
Mood swings and low mood
Feelings of being overwhelmed or helpless

Cognitive Symptoms

Difficulty concentrating and memory problems
Impaired decision-making
Reduced creative and analytical performance

Diagnosis and Assessment

Mental stress is assessed in medicine and psychology using various standardised tools:

Questionnaires: e.g. Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI), PHQ-9 for depressive symptoms
Clinical interview: Assessment of medical history and life circumstances by physicians or psychotherapists
Physical examinations: Ruling out organic causes such as thyroid disorders or hormonal imbalances
Biological markers: Cortisol measurements in blood or saliva as indicators of stress

Treatment and Coping

Treatment depends on the intensity and duration of the stress and whether clinically significant conditions have developed:

Psychotherapeutic Approaches

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT): Changing unhelpful thought and behavioural patterns
Stress management training: Learning relaxation techniques and time management skills
Mindfulness-based approaches: e.g. MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction)

Lifestyle Measures

Regular physical activity and exercise
Sufficient sleep and rest breaks
Social support and maintaining social connections
Balanced nutrition and reduction of stimulants

Medical Treatment

In cases of clinically significant secondary conditions such as burnout, anxiety disorders, or depression, medication in combination with psychotherapy may be necessary.

When to See a Doctor?

Consulting a physician or psychotherapist is recommended when mental stress persists for several weeks, significantly impairs daily functioning, or causes physical or psychological symptoms that strongly affect well-being. Seeking help early can prevent the condition from becoming chronic.

References

World Health Organization (WHO): Mental health in the workplace. Geneva: WHO, 2022. Available at: https://www.who.int/teams/mental-health-and-substance-use/promotion-prevention/mental-health-in-the-workplace
Lohmann-Haislah, A.: Stressreport Deutschland 2012. Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA), Dortmund/Berlin/Dresden, 2012.
Kaluza, G.: Coping with Stress – A Training Manual for Psychological Health Promotion. 3rd edition. Springer Medizin Verlag, Heidelberg, 2018.

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