STRESS- CAUSES, EFFECTS,SYMPTOMS AND TREATMENT

BY DAKSHITA NAITHANI

INTRODUCTION

Stress is a human emotion that is natural and affects everyone at some point in their lives. The human body is built to recognise and respond to stress. An individual’s body creates physical and mental reactions in response to changes or difficulties (stressors). It is any sort of change that produces physical, emotional, or psychological pressure. It may be caused by a variety of conditions or life events. When we encounter anything new, unanticipated which challenges our sense of self, or when we believe we have little control over a situation, it is frequently activated.

Your body’s stress reactions assist it in adapting to new conditions. A stress reaction, for example, may help your body work harder and remain awake longer if you have an important test coming up. When stresses persist without release or times of relaxation, it becomes a problem.

To some extent, everyone is stressed. We all handle stress in various ways which also has a significant impact on your wellbeing .Genetics, early life events, personality, and social and economic conditions can all influence our capacity to cope.

TYPES OF STRESS

Not all types of stress are harmful or even negative. Some of the different types of stress that you might experience include:

Acute stress: We face this type of stress in daily life it is short term and can be either positive or distressing.

Chronic stress: Chronic stress is a type of stress that appears to be never-ending and unavoidable, such as the stress of a physically demanding profession; chronic stress can also result from catastrophic events and psychological trauma.

Episodic acute stress: Acute stress that appears to be rampant and becomes a way of life, resulting in a life of constant distress, is known as episodic acute stress.

Eustress: Eustress is a thrilling and enjoyable experience. It’s a type of positive stress that can help you stay energised. It’s linked to adrenaline rushes, as when you’re skiing or rushing to reach a target.

CAUSES OF STRESS

There are numerous factors that might generate stress in one’s life. Work, economics, partnerships, parenthood, and day-to-day hassles are all common causes of stress. Workplace stress may also be detrimental to your psychological health. Workplace stress causes people to miss an average of 24 days of work each year due to illness.

Even life changes that are positive in nature such as moving to a larger house, getting a work promotion, or going on vacation can lead to stress. If you’re anxious in certain situations, you could have a hard time understanding why, or you might be hesitant to express your thoughts with others.

The fight-or-flight response, which is usually triggered by stress, is the body’s reaction to a perceived threat or danger. The fight-or-flight response, which was called for its capacity to enable us to physically fight or flee when faced with danger when is triggered in situations where both the responses are not appropriate, such as in traffic or during a stressful day at work. The relaxation reaction does not occur frequently enough in instances of chronic stress, and being in a near-constant state of fight-or-flight might harm the body.

HOW CHRONIC STRESS AFFECTS YOUR HEALTH

When you consider the influence stress has on your life, you can see the link between your mind and body. Physical health problems might arise when you are worried out about a relationship, money, or your living circumstances. It’s also true in reverse. Wellness issues, whether you have high blood pressure or diabetes, will have an impact on your stress level and mental health.

Heart attacks, arrhythmias, and even sudden death can be triggered by severe acute stress, such as being involved in a natural disaster or getting into a verbal altercation. Stress has an emotional impact as well. While mild anxiety or frustration may result from some stress, prolonged stress can lead to burnout, anxiety disorders, and depression. When under a lot of stress, your autonomic nervous system becomes overactive, which can harm your body.

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Continuous activation of the stress response creates wear and tear on the body. When a person is under stress for a long term symptoms manifest themselves in the form of physical, emotional, and behavioural manifestations.

Physical symptoms of stress include:

Aches and pains such as chest pain or a feeling like your heart is racing.
Feeling exhausted all the time or having trouble while sleeping.
Having Headaches, High blood pressure, dizziness or shaking.
Muscle tension or jaw clenching (Grinding teeth)
Having various digestive problems.
It also results in a weak immune system.
Clammy or sweaty palms

Stress can lead to emotional and mental symptoms such as:

Anxiety or irritability.
Depression.
Panic attacks.
Sadness.
Changes in mood

Identifying Stress

Having stress for long-terms has also been related to various gastrointestinal diseases including Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or stomach ulcers, as well as cardiovascular illness, according to certain studies.

Stress may originate from a variety of places, but even little everyday pressures from job, school, family, and friends can have a negative impact on your mind and body.

If you think it might be bothering you, there are a few things you can look for:

Difficulty concentrating, worrying, anxiety, and difficulties remembering are all psychological symptoms.
Anger, irritability, moodiness, and frustration are examples of emotional indicators.
High blood pressure, weight fluctuations, frequent colds or infections, and changes in the menstrual cycle and libido are among physical symptoms.
Poor self-care, not having time for the activities you like, or depending on drugs and alcohol to cope are all behavioural markers to look out for.

TREATMENT

There is no one particular therapy for stress because it is not a separate medical diagnosis. Change the environment, improve stress coping abilities, apply various relaxation techniques and treating conditions that may have been created by chronic stress are all part of stress treatment.

Psychotherapy, medication, and complementary and alternative medicine are some of the therapies that may be beneficial.

HOW TO COPE WITH STRESS

Stress is unavoidable, but can be managed. One can take control of their health and decrease the influence stress has on life once they understand the toll it takes and how to battle it. You can’t escape stress, but you can keep it from becoming overwhelming by using the following methods on a regular basis:

Exercise

Regular exercise is one of the most effective methods to calm your body and mind. Plus it will also lift your spirits. Work up to 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderately intensive activity, such as brisk walks, or 75 minutes of rigorous exercise, such as swimming laps, running, or participating in other sports. Focus on creating realistic fitness goals so you don’t give up.

Relax Your Muscles

Your muscles stiffen up when you’re anxious. Stretching, getting a massage and other self-care activities can help loosen them up and rejuvenate your body. Taking a hot bath or shower is a great way to relax. Having a restful night’s sleep is also very important.

Deep Breathing

Stopping and taking a few deep breaths can immediately relieve stress. Once you get the hang of it, you’ll be amazed at how much better you feel. Simply take these five steps:

Sit with your hands in your lap and your feet on the floor in a comfortable posture.
Close your eyes for a moment.

Consider yourself in a soothing environment. It may be on the beach, in a lovely field of grass, anyplace else that helps you feel calm.
Slowly inhale and exhale deeply.
At a moment, do it for 5 to 10 minutes.
Eat Well

Eating a good well-balanced, regular diet will make you feel better overall. It may also aid with mood regulation. For energy, your meals should include plenty of vegetables, fruit, healthy grains, and lean protein and make sure you don’t forget any.

Slow Down
5 to 10 minutes ahead of time, set your watch. You’ll be able to arrive a bit earlier and avoid the worry of being late.
Switch to the slow lane if you’re travelling on the highway to prevent road rage.
Break down projects into manageable chunks. If you don’t have to, don’t try to respond to all 100 emails; instead, respond to a handful of them.
Take a Break

To give your mind a break from stress, schedule some genuine leisure. It may be difficult for you at first if you are someone who enjoys setting objectives for the day. But if you stay with it, you’ll come to like these times. Meditation, Yoga, Tai chi, Prayer, Listening to music, and spending time in nature are all relaxing activities.

Make Time for Hobbies

You must schedule time for activities that you like. Every day, try to do something that makes you happy, it helps you to relax. It doesn’t have to take a long time; 15 to 20 minutes would suffice. Reading, knitting, doing an art project, playing golf, watching a movie, doing puzzles, and playing cards and board games are all relaxing activities.

Talk About Your Problems

If anything is troubling you, talking about it might help you relax. Family members, friends, a trustworthy priest, a doctor, or a therapist are all good places to start.

So, when you’re worried, pay attention to what you’re thinking or saying. Change the negative message you’re sending yourself to a positive one. Don’t tell yourself, “I can’t do this,” for example. Instead, tell yourself, “I can do this,” or “I’m doing the best I can.”

Go Easy On Yourself

Accept that no matter how hard you strive, you will never be able to achieve everything with perfection. So, do yourself a favour and quit being hard over yourself and stop overestimating your abilities. Also, remember to retain your sense of humour. Laughter is one of the most effective ways to relax.

Eliminate Your Triggers

Determine the main sources of stress in your life. Is it your job, your commute, or your schooling that’s the problem? If you can figure out what they are you may get rid of them or at least decrease them in your life.

CHALLENGES ESTABLISHING PSYCHOLOGY AS A SCIENCE.

Wilhelm Wundt a German physician and philosopher in 19th century set up the first psychological laboratory at Leipzig University in 1879 to study human behaviour, through his rigorous experiment, work and efforts made psychology emerged as a science.

However, establishing psychology as a science was a challenge. People still didn’t knew how the mind work and functions. There was still a massive amount of data yet to be gathered. Thought it emerged as a science it was into many controversies and criticism; let see what were they.

1) PSYCHOLOGY IN PRE PARADIGMATIC STATE

According to American philosopher, Thomus Kuhn psychology has not succeeded in producing a cumulative body of knowledge that has a clear conceptual core. It contrasts with other sciences.

2) PROBLEM RELATED TO OBJECTIVITY AND VALIDITY

Methods such as introspection and psychoanalysis are inherently subjective, so in some extant psychology falls short on the criteria of objectivity and validity.

3) OBJECTIFYING HUMANS

Since many experiments on humans and their behaviour some of the scientist from the same field criticised the work. They said it treats human as an object, it sometimes portrayed as dehumanizing.

4) ISSUES RELATED TO PREDICTABILITY AND REPLICABILITY

In psychology making exact prediction is difficult and major goal of psychology is to predict human behaviour and humans respond in different way in different situations thus causing more difficult to understand human behaviour. Therefore causing the test results in psychology are more varied, harder to control and difficult to replicate.

Facts About Ladybugs🐞

“I would like to turn into a ladybug so that I can add to the beauty of nature.”

~Prachi Pandey

Ladybugs, or lady beetles, are insects in the beetle family. There are about 5,000 species of these tiny insects, and most of them are quite helpful. Although best known as a red insect with black spots, ladybugs come in a variety of colors, and some have stripes or no markings at all.

These little hard-shelled creatures are harmless to humans and helpful to gardeners. From their hidden wings to their talent for warding off predators, discover fascinating facts about the lovable ladybug.

1. Technically, They’re Lady Beetles, Not Ladybugs

These small insects are more accurately called lady beetles or ladybird beetles. Ladybug is the American name given to the Coccinellidae family of beetles. Bugs have needle-like mouthparts and a mostly liquid diet, while beetles have the ability to chew and enjoy munching on plants and insects.

Beetles also have hard wings, while bugs have softer wings or no wings at all. Beetles go through a complete metamorphosis, while bugs look about the same throughout their entire life cycle.

2. They Aren’t All Red With Black Spots

Yellow ladybug with stripes instead of spots

Though most people think of ladybugs as red with black spots, not all species of ladybugs look like that. There are about 5,000 species of ladybugs in the world, including 450 in North America. In addition to red, they can also be yellow, orange, brown, pink, or even all black. Their spots, which some ladybugs don’t have at all, can look more like stripes.

3. They Consume a Lot of Pests

Ladybugs earn their place as a desirable insect based on their preferred diet of plant-damaging insects, including aphids. Ladybugs lay hundreds of eggs in aphid colonies, and as soon as they hatch, the larvae immediately start feeding. An adult ladybug may eat as many as 5,000 aphids in its lifetime.

These beneficial insects also eat fruit flies, thrips, and mites. Different species of ladybugs have different food preferences. While many prey on garden pests, some, like the Mexican bean beetle and the squash beetle, feed on plants and are unwelcome pests themselves.

Red and black ladybug on a small branch eating aphids

4. They Hibernate in Winter

Instead of heading south for the winter, ladybugs living in colder climates enter diapause, a type of insect hibernation. When the aphids begin to disappear, ladybugs realize that winter is coming and flock together to reproduce right before entering hibernation. During this period, which can last as long as nine months, they live on their fat reserves, which hold them until spring when insects become plentiful again.

5. Their Spots Serve as a Warning

The spots and bright colors on ladybugs are not for looks alone. They are meant to warn would-be attackers that this beetle tastes terrible. Beyond their warning colors, ladybugs have another line of defense: They emit foul-smelling blood from their leg joints when they’re startled. This yellow liquid is toxic to many ladybug predators such as birds and small mammals.

When all else fails, ladybugs are known to play dead, giving them a third defense mechanism in a world of eat or be eaten. They aren’t often preyed upon thanks to all of this protection, but some insect species — assassin bugs, stink bugs, and spiders — eat ladybugs.

6. Their Name Is Legendary

Legend has it that the “lady” in lady beetle dates back to the Middle Ages. The story is that farmers’ crops were being damaged by swarms of aphids. But after the farmers prayed to the Virgin Mary for help, the ladybugs arrived, ate all the aphids, and saved the day. The farmers were so grateful that from then on they referred to the insects as “Our Lady’s beetles.”

7. They May Eat Their Own Eggs

Female ladybugs lay as many as 1,000 tiny gold-colored eggs during a single season, but not all of the eggs make it to adulthood. While they prefer to lay their eggs on leaves covered with aphids, when prey is in short supply, the ladybugs may eat the eggs and larvae.

In fact, ladybugs plan ahead for supply shortages; when food is scarce, ladybugs lay infertile eggs to provide for their offspring.

ladybug on underside of leaf tending to its eggs

8. They Have Hidden Wings

Much like butterflies, ladybugs go through four stages before they complete their metamorphosis. They begin as tiny eggs that hatch into larvae that resemble tiny spiny alligators. Then they begin the pupal stage, which lasts around two weeks. In their final phase, they become adult ladybugs and their hidden wings appear.

Adult ladybugs have a recognizable smooth dome shape, and their forewings are protected by an outer shell, or elytra. Underneath the outer shell is a pair of thin hind wings that unfold at a speed of 0.1 seconds and are significantly larger than the ladybug’s body.Once unfolded, ladybug wings move at a rate of 85 beats per second.

9. Ladybugs’ Numbers Are Declining

Researchers studying a decline in native ladybugs in the United States and Canada theorize that the population reduction may be due to the introduction of non-native species, climate change, land-use changes, disease, or shifts in the availability of prey. In an effort to track ladybug populations, entomologists at Cornell University created the lost Ladybug Project, a citizen-based effort to spot, photograph, and report on ladybugs across North America.

“I think people should maybe just go out into the garden and watch a ladybug crawl across a flower and relax their mind.”
~ Harland Williams

Peacocks Feather

The beauty of the feathers has always amazed us humans but peacocks have it on another level, with all of its iridescent colors the bird has enchanted not only us but the most powerful incarnation and deity as well.

There are many interesting facts about the peacocks and most probably the same reason they have been capturing our attention for a long time now.

The visual effect from their feature is not from birth as till 3 years old it’s even difficult to make out the difference in male and female, then how come while growing they can fill their feature with the colors so bright yet so magnificent.

The reason for their beautiful visual is the structure they carry which is made up of different little crystals that reflect different wavelengths of light depending on how they are spaced.

Despite having the beauty of nature blending with the structure of its feather, he is enchanting to us for more reasons than just that, peacock feather is considered religiously important as well.

We all know that Krishna Ji wears the feather of a peacock but why he chose to wear the ornament of a peacock feather when he could have used anything.

Following are the reasons why he is considered significant to us and also why we worship the feather of a peacock:

Purity: In our Hindu mythology, the symbol of purity is considered as a Peacock and that was the reason why Krishna Ji used to wear its feather. Krishna Ji was married to many queens and princesses but he never had any relation with them as he was Askalitha Brahmacharya, the one who is eternally a Brahmcharya, and whoever he married he did all of it for setting all the wheels of Dharma.
The Love of Dance: There is one similarity between our Kanha Ji and Peacock and that is they both love to dance while forgetting everything in their dance and merging every bit of energy in eternal bliss. There goes one story that can also help us clarify the love of dance of Krishna Ji and peacock together. According to some folks once when Krishna Ji was awake after the noon nap and wanted to return home with all the cows grazing at the distance then he started to play the flute to call every of hic cow back to him but when every animal and bird heard the melodious tune of the flute they couldn’t control themselves and they started dancing in the happiness the melody created for them. A far there was a group of peacocks who all were also dancing and was so happy that they started crying the tears of joy while feeling the eternal bliss when Krishan Ji stopped playing the flute everyone was so content and happy that the group of peacock decide to offer them something which could show how grateful were they to feel the eternal bliss and that is why peacock offered their feather to Krishna Ji.

Top VPN – 'virtual private network' for Use

The best VPN – short for ‘virtual private network’ – is software traditionally used to help keep you anonymous online and virtually change your location. As they’ve become more well-known, though, countless users are discovering there’s much more to VPNs than just staying private online.

From securing your sensitive information and avoiding trackers to circumventing content blocks on Netflix, Amazon Prime, and sports streaming sites, you don’t have to be a hardcore techy to appreciate their potential. Plus, the top providers have apps for just about any device, so even if you’re mobile-first or use your PlayStation for everything, you can stay secure and stream more with ease.

The only difficulty is choosing the best VPN for the job – and we’re here to help you find a balance between speed, streaming, security and, of course, value for money.

What is a VPN?

The primary function of VPNs is to encrypt and anonymize anything and everything you do online by rerouting your traffic through its own secure servers and hiding it from your ISP. Good security credentials and proper logging practice should be at the top of your list.

Many people also use VPNs for unblocking websites on restricted networks like schools and workplaces, while others use them to avoid government censorship in countries like China. For this, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got plenty of servers to choose from, dotted around the globe.

However, one of the most popular uses for the best VPN is to access geo-blocked streaming content on sites like Netflix, and to watch live sports for cheap, or even for free, by changing your location. If you’re a big streamer, you’ll want to ensure your chosen VPN will be able to access every streaming site you need, as well as making sure connection speeds are up to scratch.

What is the best VPN available today?

The competition to be crowned best VPN gets tougher every day, but there’s still a clear winner that’s head and shoulders above the rest – ExpressVPN.

One of ExpressVPN’s main assets is that it’s incredibly easy to use on any platform – be it your phone, PC, or even PlayStation and you can enjoy using Warzone VPN. It also performed well in our streaming tests, easily getting around the geo-restrictions of Netflix, Hulu and Amazon Prime Video – and, because it provides such swift connections, you’ll be able to watch in HD or 4K just like usual.

To top it off, you’ll also be covered by a 30-day money-back guarantee which means you can effectively test-drive the service and its 3,000+ servers for a whole month before you buy – you can find out all the details in our full independent ExpressVPN review.

1. ExpressVPN – hands-down the best VPN available

In our testing, ExpressVPN came out on top in just about every area. Not only does it provide stellar security features, but it’s unrivalled when it comes to connection speeds and unblocking streaming content. Its 30-day money-back guarantee lets you trial the service risk-free, and Tom’s Guide readers can claim three months free – plus 1 year free of backup software Backblaze.

2. NordVPN – big name offers serious security

Arguably the biggest name in the VPN industry, it’s quite likely you’ll have heard of NordVPN. Thankfully it’s not all hot air, as Nord delivers a premium service that’s hugely secure and great for streaming – and at just $3.30 a month plus three months free, it’s decent value

3. Surfshark – best-value VPN on the market

If you’re after a premium service for as little money as possible, Surfshark is perfect. With top streaming performance and intuitive apps on just about every device, it’s the best VPN on a budget at just $2.49 a month – and its unlimited connections policy will cover all your devices.

The best VPN services today at a glance

ExpressVPN – Excellent privacy, streaming and simplicity make ExpressVPN the best VPN today

NordVPN – Impressive security features that can rival the very best VPN services

Surfshark – The best VPN if you’re looking for premium performance on a budget

Hotspot Shield – If you’re after a superfast, no-frills service, Hotspot Shield is a good choice

CyberGhost – Some of the best VPN features when it comes to streaming, but can’t unblock everything

Private Internet Access – Great features like port forwarding make for one of the best VPNs for P2P

IPVanish – Unlimited connections and cheap short plans make for a very flexible service

VyprVPN – Chameleon protocol makes this one of the best VPN services for using in China

Best VPN FAQ

How do I choose the best VPN service?

Choosing the best VPN for can be a tricky process – that’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide. However, for most people, we’d recommend our #1 VPN ExpressVPN as the best choice.

It works great as a Netflix VPN, a torrenting VPN, and even a China VPN, so whatever you need your VPN to do, it’s got you covered – all the while keeping you protected with its rock-solid encryption.

When testing VPNs, we check every aspect that might be of concern. To begin with, we look at what personal details a service needs, and any essential features like encryption. Then we consider pricing, and whether money-back guarantees are on offer, and whether it works on other operating systems as a Mac VPN or Linux VPN as well as on Windows.

During the physical testing, we test speeds over a number of servers, check for DNS leaks, test kill switch functionality plus any and all other additional features, and measure connection time and if the apps crash.

Finally, we review how easy the apps are to use, and test the services on desktop and mobile devices.

Is it illegal to have a VPN?

Short answer – no.

Using a VPN is not illegal, and it’s perfectly legitimate to want to protect your data and activity. Having one on your computer and using it regularly in pursuit of watertight web security and location spoofing is in no way unlawful.

However, using a VPN to hide illegal activity doesn’t make you above the law, so downloading copyrighted material is still illegal even with a VPN. Similarly, using a VPN goes slap bang against Netflix’s Ts&Cs, and the provider has the right to terminate your subscription if they catch you – although that’s never actually happened.

Countries like China and the UAE have made laws against VPN use, but due to their use in business it’s impossible to outlaw VPNs outright. However, in those cases it’s well worth reading up on what you may or may not be permitted to use a VPN for, and consider if the very small risk is worth taking.

What are the VPN dos and don’ts?

The best VPN can make it look like you’re located somewhere you’re not. It’s a well-worn practice to evade online censorship, as is done in some countries, or to tap into US streaming services while in Europe or Asia. We’ve used VPNs to read the New York morning paper in Beijing, and watch US TV in London.

But there are some caveats. A VPN will give you more privacy, but not more security. If you end up on a website harboring malware, the VPN can’t prevent you from being infected.

If you just want to evade geographical restrictions on streaming content such as BBC iPlayer or Hulu, you don’t necessarily need a VPN to do so. You just need a proxy service that will make it look like you’re in the right country. There are many free proxy services available, but do your homework before choosing one – some are a bit dodgy.

Finally, Netflix and the BBC are cracking down on VPNs and proxy services. There are no guarantees that a particular service will evade geographical restrictions on a particular day.

What makes a great VPN?

The most basic qualities you should look for are speed, privacy and ease of use. These might seem like basic attributes, but in reality few providers have found a happy medium.

Connection speed relies on having a wide range of well-maintained servers. This allows the VPN to provide excellent speed and bandwidth to everyone using its servers.

Having excellent security is a fairly basic requirement, but hard to get right. If you’re concerned about that, make sure your VPN has an airtight privacy policy, and a no-logging policy is even better. Some services like ExpressVPN and NordVPN have also been independently audited to prove their claims.

Finally, although many users might be au fait with tech, more and more newbies are looking to start using VPNs. If that’s you, it’s definitely worth making sure that your provider has well-designed apps on all the devices you expect to use with the service.

Are no-fee VPNs any good?

Naturally, free services are very popular products because everyone likes to save their money. And, they can be handy bits of software if you’re not somebody that’s likely to keep their VPN turned on all the time and just want it for occasional use for staying safe on public Wi-Fi. Oh, and if you don’t mind ads…

For most people, though, free services provide a false economy. They tend to have limited servers in just a handful of locations, often restrict you to a single device and almost always have a limit on the amount data you can use per day or month.

Those data limits rule out using your VPN for streaming or torrenting, and if you want to keep your VPN running 24/7 for a permanent privacy layer, a no-fee VPN just isn’t going to work.

What VPN protocols are there?

There are several different VPN protocols, not all of which are used by all of the VPN services we reviewed. Most operating systems have built-in support for at least one of these protocols, which means you can use that protocol – and a willing VPN service – without client software. The full-fledged VPN services have online instructions for how to do this, as well as how to set up routers to connect directly to the services.

OpenVPN: OpenVPN is very secure, open-source and widely used. Most VPN services support it, but except for Chrome OS and Linux, few operating systems do. This protocol can be used in either TCP (web) or UDP (streaming) mode; the latter is sloppier but faster. You’ll need either the VPN service’s client software or one of the many free alternatives. Either way, you’ll still need to pay for the VPN service.

L2TP/IPsec (Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol with Internet Protocol Security): L2TP is not secure itself, so it’s generally paired with the IPsec secure-networking standard. The combination of the two was once thought to be very secure when properly implemented, but some VPN services suggest that you use OpenVPN instead. L2TP/IPsec has native support in Windows, OS X/macOS, Android, Chrome OS and iOS. Most VPN services support it.

IKEv2 (Internet Key Exchange version 2, generally with IPsec): This is a new-ish standard that is very secure when properly implemented. It has native support in Windows, iOS and recent versions of OS X/macOS.

SSTP (Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol): SSTP is a Microsoft protocol with native support on Windows Vista and later versions. It’s thought to be quite secure, but only Microsoft knows for sure.

PPTP (Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol): This standard is largely obsolete, with many known security flaws, but it’s fast. It has native support built into Windows, Android and older versions of Mac OS X and iOS; Apple dropped support with macOS Sierra and iOS 10. Use PPTP only for streaming content, as it won’t protect your data.

WireGuard: The newest of these protocols, WireGuard combines reportedly excellent security with great speeds. Developed from the ground up, it uses far less code than its predecessors, meaning a better, simpler user experience. However, it’s not yet supported by many VPN services, although as it gains traction more and more are beginning to implement it. Some, like Mozilla VPN, solely use WireGuard.