Answer this question to the best of your ability:
How does acute stress affect mental health differently than chronic stress?
Acute stress is a single event or short-term stressor that triggers an immediate fight or flight response in the body. While it can be distressing, it generally doesn't cause long-lasting mental health issues if the individual has access to adequate coping mechanisms and social support. However, how acute stress affects mental health can differ significantly from chronic stress. The primary difference is the duration of the stressor. If an individual is exposed to prolonged or repeated episodes of acute stress without adequate recovery time, it can transform into chronic stress, thereby increasing the risk for long-term mental health problems as previously described.