Stress Less!

Post date: Aug 6, 2014 3:58:28 PM

Stress Less!

What is stress? Stress is defined as the reaction of the human body to any stimulus change. Stress is a normal part of living life. Many things that occur inside you and around you can cause stress on your body. You can experience it from the environment in which you live in, your psychological state of mind, or sometimes your own body can cause stress. The body reacts to stress in three different ways with physical, mental, or emotional responses.

To understand stress, we must first understand why it exists from a biological standpoint. It is part of the fight and flight response that is innate in humans since we first appeared on the Earth. It is a survival mechanism from which we were able to protect ourselves from impending danger in the wild when we were hunter-gathers foraging for food or when we were defending our tribes from attack. This response system is still alive within us today.

A certain amount of stress in everyday life is normal. Once stress surpasses a tolerance level in which it starts to harm people physically, mentally, or emotionally, then it is no longer considered to be normal. Different people have different tolerances to stress. Some people have a high tolerance to it and deal with it effectively. Other people have a low tolerance to it and have anxiety attacks.

Chronic stress triggers the production of stress hormones such as cortisol and norepinephrine within the body. The endocrine system is the “hormone regulating system” of the body. Cortisol affects the metabolic system while norepinephrine plays a role in depression and hypertension. Stress hormones rise in the body during any stressful reaction and can remain high to as long as 72 hours. Cortisol takes the longest for levels to return to normal. Constant, chronic stress causes continual release of stress hormones which cause: a depletion of energy and energy stores, stress-induced hypertension, shutting down metabolic processes such as digestion, reproduction, growth and immunity, ulcers (digestion), affects on the menstrual hormones and irregular menstrual cycles in females, and increases likelihood of infectious diseases.

Steps You Can Take To Reduce The Stress In Your Life

Life is too short to stress over. Coping with stress is easier that you think. If you have a few minutes at work or at home, try these few quick tips to help you relax:

1. Close your eyes and just breath. This is your time to relax. Breath deeply and slowly from your diaphragm for 3-5 minutes.

2. Close your eyes, breath slowly, and visualize that you are in a physical place that makes you happy such as the beach, the mountains, a lake, sailing on the ocean or basking in the sun.

3. Think of things you would like to be doing that make you happy. In the evening? On the weekend? When you are on vacation?

4. Think of everything you are grateful for. Things can always be a lot worse.Be thankful that they are not!

5. Think of something funny and laugh! Laughing raises dopamine levels in your brain and will make you feel good!