Chronic stress destroys bodies, minds and lives and is born out of poverty, dysfunctional families, unhappy marriages and being in a hated job or career. The worst part of Chronic Stress is that people get used to it and forget it is there. Whereas acute stress is new and absorbed into one's awareness, chronic stress is old, familiar, and sometimes, comfortable. Chronic stress kills through suicide, violence, heart attack, stroke, and perhaps, even cancer.

		Chronic stress comes with never seeing a way out of a miserable situation; the demands and pressures are overwhelming and the individual stops looking for a way out.
		Some chronic stresses stem from traumatic early childhood experiences that become internalized and remain forever painful and present.
		Some experiences profoundly affect personality. A view of the world, or a belief system, is created that causes unending stress for the individual (e.g., the world is a threatening place, people will find out you are a pretender, you must be perfect at all times). When personality or deep-seated convictions or beliefs must be reframed, recovery requires active self-examination, often with professional help.

Because physical and mental resources are depleted through long-term wear and tear, the symptoms of chronic stress are difficult to treat and may require extended medical as well as behavioral treatment and stress management.