The Stress Response

THE STRESS RESPONSE

Worries fears and anxieties are common to all of us. They are not physically or mentally damaging and on most occasions, these responses are reasonable or even vital to our survival.

These feelings release a hormone (adrenaline) which promotes physical and mental changes which prepare us for either taking flight or fighting in a dangerous situation. Once the stress or danger has passed these temporary changes subside.

The bodily changes we are likely to experience include heightened muscular tension, increased breathing rate, raised blood pressure, perspiration and digestive changes. All these changes increase our readiness for action and explain many of the sensations we associate with anxiety, such as racing heart and butterflies.

The psychological changes associated with stress include changes in the way we think and sometimes in the way we feel, which again helps us to cope with stress. When faced with danger or stress our thinking becomes more focussed and there is an improvement in concentration and problem-solving, this is an ideal state of mind for anyone facing a serious challenge.

CHRONIC AND LONG TERM STRESS

Clearly the changes brought about by the stress response are helpful in the short term because they prepare our body for action and focus our minds. However these responses were designed as a short term immediate response which would be switched off as soon as the danger had passed.

Problems can arise if these reactions are not switched off, that is if the stress response becomes chronic or excessive. If this happens we pass our peak and performance starts to deteriorate. What is often called “Burn out”

Our modern lives appear to be filled with stresses, work, family, relationships, moving home, health problems and financial problems to name but a few. They are all stresses but not usually short term ones. The stresses I have described tend to take over peoples lives, lasting weeks, months and even years if left unchecked.

“It just seems to be one problem after another, I have got a constant headache and upset stomach, I keep expecting something else to go wrong and I’m at the end of my tether”

Does this sound familiar? It’s very common to hear people talking like this, and becoming increasingly more common over time as our lives seem to get more complicated.

The signs of stress vary considerably from person to person, but here are the most common ones:-

Headaches

Muscle pain or tension

Stomach problems

Sweating

Feeling dizzy

Bowel or bladder problems

Breathlessness or palpitations

Dry mouth

Tingling in body

Lack of sex Drive

Feeling irritable

Feeling anxious or tense

Feeling low in mood

Feelings of apathy

Feelings of low self esteem

Temper outbursts

Drinking/smoking too much

Changes in eating habits

Withdrawal from usual activities

Being forgetful and clumsy

Sleep problems

Do you recognise any of them in you or your loved ones?

If you have some of these signs and symptoms it is likely that you are experiencing stress. They can all be described as short term signs, but long term health risks from stress are serious and include heart disease, high blood pressure, severe depression, stroke, migraine, severe anxiety, asthma, low resistance to infections, bowel problems, stomach ulcers, fatigue and sleep disorders.

Studies have shown that the first step in tackling stress is to become aware that it is a problem for you.

Own up to feeling stressed – half the battle is admitting it!