What is Stress?

A little bit of stress is OK

People often think of stress as a negative and something to be avoided, but a little bit of stress can be good for us, it keeps us motivated, on our toes and makes us work harder.  For instance, a little bit of pressure can make sure that you will prepare and practice a speech before you give it, which will improve your performance.

The body’s response to stress was developed during prehistoric times as a flight or fight response to major life threatening stressors (such as running into a woolly mammoth!).  Chemicals and hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol are released into the body causing disruption to the immune, circulatory, digestive and sexual systems.

This can affect the body in many ways:

• Increased heart rate, blood pressure and palpitations
• Constricted blood vessels and increased clotting
• Muscles tense, headaches, tiredness, aches and pains
• Butterflies in the stomach, feelings of nausea, diarrhoea and poor appetite
• Lack of libido
• Release of fat and sugar into the blood stream
• Breathing changes to hyperventilation
• Dry mouth and increased sweating
• Senses become more acute, noises seem too loud and eyes feel strained
• Thoughts of danger, feelings of fear, worrying, sense of humour disappears, poor memory and concentration and difficulty sleeping.

In prehistoric times when this stress system was developed and became hardwired into the body, stressful situations occurred only occasionally allowing the body plenty of time to get rid of the chemicals and their effects. 

Too much stress is no good

However, now stressful situations can be chronic not allowing the adrenaline and the accompanying effects to diminish. 

Sometimes people try and cope with stress in ways that can further affect their health and increase their risk of heart disease such as smoking, drinking, eating too much or the wrong foods and not getting any exercise.

The good news – Stress can be managed

The good news is that there are lots of ways you can manage stress in a healthy way.