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If you feel fatigued, overwhelmed, or like a rubber band about to snap — and you’ve been feeling this way for some time — you might be in the throes of chronic stress.
Occasional stress is a typical part of life, but chronic stress, or ongoing stress, can have a major impact on your mental and physical health.
But high stress levels don’t have to be a forever issue. You can learn ways to manage the mental load and reduce chronic stress.
Read on to discover what chronic stress is (compared to acute stress), and the symptoms and treatment of chronic stress.
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Chronic stress is when you regularly, repeatedly, and continuously feel stressed by something, everything, or nothing.
Unlike typical stress, the chronic kind isn’t triggered by one specific issue — it can be lingering stress imprinted onto your brain by things like past traumas, or an ongoing stressful lifestyle.
According to the American Psychological Association, even if the stressor has passed, just recalling it can keep chronic stress burning strong.
“The brain is a marvelous organ, but sometimes it gets pushed too hard, and then it starts to work against us. Chronic stress can turn beneficial coping mechanisms that make us aware of danger into an obstacle that holds us back from fully engaging with life,” says Dr. Daniel Lieberman, the senior vice president of mental health at Hims & Hers, and a clinical professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at George Washington University.
Stress, for the record, is when your senses are heightened by changes or challenges Your body and brain are conditioned to respond to stress by releasing hormones — like cortisol and adrenaline — and becoming more alert. It’s a survival mechanism that happens in (perceived) dangerous situations.
What does chronic stress feel like? When stress becomes chronic, it makes you constantly alert, like you’re always in “survival mode.” Every new piece of information and every new challenge can trigger this survival stress response.
Stress can be acute or chronic. Here’s how they differ:
Acute stress. This is short-term stress triggered by an immediate stressor. It causes short-lived changes (like an increased heart rate or muscle tension) that return to normal once the stressor passes. Think slamming on your brakes to avoid a car accident: Stressful in the moment, but you eventually calm down once you’re driving again.
Chronic stress. This is long-term stress that’s ongoing and may not be linked to a specific one-time event. You may feel stressed for weeks or months. Think never-ending work deadlines and long hours that keep your body in a stressed state around the clock.
Stress affects everyone differently, and it can affect your body and mind.
Physical symptoms of chronic stress include:
Muscle tension, jaw clenching, or shaking
Intimacy and arousal issues
A weakened immune system
Unexplained aches and pains
Headaches, chest pain, racing heart, or dizziness
High blood pressure
Digestive problems like nausea or diarrhea
Mental symptoms of chronic stress include:
Cognitive impairment
Trouble concentrating
Impaired decision-making
Memory issues
Exhaustion
Feelings of burnout
Irritability
Emotional numbness
Behavioral signs of chronic stress include:
Overeating, stress eating, or loss of appetite
Social withdrawal
Compulsive behaviors like sex, shopping, or gambling
Increased use of drugs, smoking, alcohol, or caffeine
Increased risk-taking behavior
Just like short-term stress, a variety of factors can cause chronic stress, like:
Taking care of a sick loved one
Chronic illness or serious health problems
Unemployment or financial troubles
Relationship issues
A demanding job with long hours
Chronic stress can impact your physical and mental health. It can mess with your metabolism, immune system, brain function, hormones, reproductive system, and more.
Beyond the symptoms we listed above, chronic stress can increase your risk of:
Low libido
Irregular periods
Skin problems, like acne and eczema
Irritable bowel disease
Cardiovascular disease and stroke
Heart attack
Diabetes
Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Anxiety
Depression
Weight gain and obesity
Day to day, coping with chronic stress isn’t that different from coping with occasional stress. But you may need to make some bigger changes to get chronic stress under control.
Here are some potential ways to address it.
Denying your stress only makes it worse.
“Medical problems, especially ones that affect our mental health, can be frightening. It’s normal to simply hope the problem will go away,” says Lieberman. “But I tell my patients they have to set a time limit. If, after a few weeks, they still feel bad, it’s time to accept that addressing the issue directly is the surest path to recovery.”
Experts say admitting a problem is the first step to overcoming it, and that applies to stress perhaps as much as anything else.
Once you’ve acknowledged you’re stressed, you can assess the issue from a place of honesty. In the moment, you could take a break or do a relaxation exercise. But long term, you may need to make some lifestyle changes like:
Cutting back on work hours
Changing jobs
Hiring more childcare
Getting help with caretaking duties
Working on improving communication with your partner, possibly though couples therapy
Stress tends to become more powerful the more we internalize it. But the second you share how you’re feeling with someone else, that power is reduced — especially when they remind you you’re capable of weathering the current storm.
And just spending time with loved ones might help you feel better, even if you don’t talk about stress.
Exercise reduces stress hormones and promotes the release of endorphins, feel-good hormones that can take your mind from stressed to relaxed.
Find a physical activity you enjoy and get moving. That could be:
Jogging
Cycling
Swimming
Yoga
Fitness or dance classes
Team sports
Walks in nature
Research shows that meditation and mindfulness practices can help you relax and reduce the symptoms of stress, anxiety, and depression.
You can try:
Progressive muscle relaxation
Body scans
Yoga
Guided imagery
These strategies can help you calm yourself down in the thick of a stressful day. But you can also incorporate mindfulness into your weekly routine to help you stay on top of stress levels long term.
Newbie? Check our guide on how to meditate to get you started.
If chronic stress is affecting your day-to-day life, reach out to a healthcare provider. They can recommend the best course of action.
That may include:
A therapist can help you come to terms with distressing past events, break unhelpful thought patterns, and learn new ways to manage chronic stress. There are many different types of therapy to choose from, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy, and psychodynamic therapy. Need help finding a therapist? Check out our finding a therapist resource for guidance.
If you have a mental health issue like panic attacks, anxiety, or depression alongside chronic stress, a healthcare provider may prescribe medication to help. This could include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), benzodiazepines, or beta blockers.
Certain supplements may also help with stress and anxiety, like our Hers Balance Blend, which includes an SSRI ingredient, L-theanine, and vitamin B6 in one pill.
“There's growing interest among mental health professionals in using L-theanine to combat stress. What's exciting is that it promotes a state of calm alertness without the risk of sedation that other antianxiety treatments can bring,” says Lieberman.
Looking for more ways to cope with stress? We’ve got more advice in our guide on how to handle stress.
Chronic stress doesn’t go away without action, and when it gets bad, that action has to be intentional. A three-day weekend may cure mild stress, but chronic stress might require therapy, lifestyle changes, and even medication.
Let’s recap what we know about chronic stress:
Chronic stress is more severe than acute stress. And it can take a physical and emotional toll on you, causing a range of symptoms like trouble sleeping and loss of focus.
Acknowledging chronic stress is the first step in addressing it. You can’t deal with ongoing stress unless you face it head on.
A professional can help. As scary as it can feel, reaching out for help is a great step toward getting chronic stress under control — especially if you’ve tried a few coping strategies and don’t feel better.
We’re here to offer that help in every way possible. Our mental health resources can answer your questions about stress (and beyond). And when you’re ready, consider taking our online mental health consultation to connect with a healthcare provider and get started on a chronic stress treatment plan.
Hims & Hers has strict sourcing guidelines to ensure our content is accurate and current. We rely on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We strive to use primary sources and refrain from using tertiary references. See a mistake? Let us know at [email protected]!
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment. Learn more about our editorial standards here.
Doctor of Medicine - New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 1992
Bachelor of Arts - St. John’s College, 1985
Internship & Residency - New York University Grossman School of Medicine, 1996
District of Columbia, 1996
Maryland, 2022
Virginia, 2022
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Psychiatry, 1997
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Addiction Psychiatry, 1998
Stanford Online, AI in Healthcare Specialization Certificate, 2025
Stanford Online, Machine Learning Specialization Certificate, 2024
Mental Health
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Professor and Vice Chair - Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, George Washington University, 1996–2022
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I practice medicine because I believe that mental health is the foundation of a meaningful life. When people suffer psychologically, it touches every part of their existence—from relationships to work to the simple ability to feel joy. Because it can be so difficult for people who are suffering to find good mental health care, my mission has been to expand access through technology, so that no one is left behind.
I like to write in my spare time. I’ve written two nonfiction titles, Spellbound: Modern Science, Ancient Magic, and the Hidden Potential of the Unconscious Mind and the international bestseller, The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity--and Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race
danielzlieberman.com