How Your Body
Reacts to Stress
Stress is the response of your body to all
demands made upon it. Understanding
these demands and their effects can help you
learn to recognize your own "stress
response," as well as ways to counteract dis
tress to lead a healthier life.
The Basic Stress Response
Your body responds to all stress, both positive
and negative, by trying to get back to normal.
Depending on the stressor (whatever causes
the stress response), hormones, like adrenalin,
may surge. Your heartbeat and blood pressure
will probably increase. Your blood sugar rises.
These physical responses helped prehistoric
humans survive by helping them run away
faster or fight harder. By the time they were
done, their bodies had discharged the tension
of the moment and their stress response was
followed by relaxation.
Physical Effects
Today, we experience stressors which are very
different from those early survival ones. Yet
positive stressors such as getting married, or
negative stressors such as family conflicts, still
cause the same physiological fight or flight
response.
If a stressful situation goes on for too long
without any relief, you might experience dis
eases and disorders, such as colds, ulcers, asth
ma, heart attack or stroke. You may feel tired,
irritable, depressed or anxious. You may have
trouble with sleeping, eating (either too much
or too little), drinking and smoking.
The iViind-Body Connection
Your mind and body are connected. When
your mind is healthy, your body can resist ill
ness better. When your body is healthy, your
feelings are more positive. During stressful
times, take care of both for maximum health
and satisfaction.
iVlinlnilze the Effects
There are many ways to keep all the nega
tive effects of different stressors to a mini
mum, Including:
• Take time for
yourself to relax
each day.
• Exercise regu
larly, after
getting your
doctor's okay.
• Learn to "let go"
of things which
are outside your
control. Learn to
adapt to changes.
• Learn to take
action when
you can make
a difference.
• Avoid excessive
alcohol, caf
feine, fats and
sugar. Don't
smoke.
• Give your time to something or some
one you believe in.
• Co
away
for
the
week
end.
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