Chronic stress sets in when a person can't see a way out of a miserable situation. It's the stress of unrelenting demands and pressures for interminable periods. With no hope, the individual gives up searching for solutions.

Some chronic stresses stem from traumatic, early childhood experiences that become internalized and remain forever painful and present. Such experiences profoundly affect personality. A view of the world, or 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 and beliefs must be reformulated, recovery requires active self-examination, often with professional help.

The worst aspect of chronic stress is that people get used to it. They forget it's there. People are immediately aware of acute stress because it's new; they ignore chronic stress because it's old, familiar, and, sometimes, almost comfortable.

Chronic stress kills through suicide, violence, heart attack, stroke, and, perhaps, even cancer. People wear down to a final, fatal breakdown.  Because physical and mental resources are depleted through long-term attrition, the symptoms of chronic stress are difficult to treat and may require extended medical as well as behavioral treatment, therapy, and stress management. Many chronic stress situations can only be addressed through group or community efforts where individuals must act together to create alternatives.