It is difficult to define or measure stress. However, stress is generally understood as something bad or dangerous. But the truth is, stress is actually a positive thing. Experiencing stress is healthy. When we are stressed, our body effectively reacts to situations that might threaten us or upset our balance of some sort.
The body has a natural way of protecting itself. If the body senses that there is something wrong, it responds quickly by giving some signs that are uncomfortable, unnatural and even annoying. Again, this is a good thing since we can recognize that there is something wrong and we can respond to it accordingly. For example, we start to feel discomfort when we sit on a chair for a long time and so we change our sitting position. The body’s reaction to stressors is just the same. When we are stressed, our body releases a flood of stress hormones, including cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones give the body that boost so that we can get into action.
Our muscles tighten, heart pounds faster, breathing quickens, blood pressure increases and senses sharpen. These changes are the body’s defense mechanism to react by either “fight or flight” the stress response.
In practical terms, the stress response gives you the drive to study rather than watch television, helps you to be on your toes when delivering a speech or presentation, helps you to meet challenges, and gives you better focus to sink that game-winning free throw.
But in a certain level, stress begins to cause major damage to your mood, health, relationship, productivity, and even your quality of life.
Since the body cannot distinguish between psychological and physical threats, any stressor is interpreted as one and the same thing. So whether you are just stressed over a traffic jam, a deadline to beat, or an obnoxious boss, you respond just as strongly as if the situation is a matter of life and death. When you are constantly stressed, your body’s stress system remains active which is unhealthy and can cause serious health problems.
Chronic stress can have physiological, psychological and mental effects. It can lead to depression, obesity, sleep problems, digestive problems, autoimmune disease, eczema and other skin conditions, body pains, restlessness, mood swings, and heart problems.
Stress warnings include the following: agitation, poor judgment, constant worrying, inability to concentrate, sense of isolation and loneliness, general unhappiness, irritability, short temper, racing thoughts, and memory problem.
Understanding Stress
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