Stress
is
YOUR 'mind-body' response to when the pressures you perceive exceed
your
ability to cope.
Stress is
your body's way of telling you something is wrong and out of balance.
So ...
listen to your body.
Understanding
this and identifying the causes of stress is the first step to managing
it.
Our
stress response is specific to our unique upbringing, perceptions,
senses,
beliefs and understandings of their world.
The
pressures we respond to may be physical/ chemical, environmental,
psychological, relationship, personal or work related, but it is our
individual
reaction to those pressures that counts.
Our acute stress response
is the same as our ancestors
'fight and flight' response. When we perceive a
threat our
'mind-body'
is prepared for action by the release of stress hormones which heighten
our
ability to respond;
• Cortisol sensitises the
body to adrenalin
and mobilises our energy reserves.
• Adrenalin leads to increased heart
rate,
improved blood flow, deeper more rapid breathing, quick thinking and
dilated
pupils, priming us to act.
Once the
threat passes the 'mind-body' switches to relaxation response and
normal
resting state.
The acute
stress response is still useful if our life is threatened by an
imminent
accident or attack, but this is rare now we largely control our world.
Unfortunately
the acute stress response can be stimulated by high pressure
situations; exams,
bullying, financial worry, perceptions, understandings fear of
redundancy/ fear
of failure and many other demands placed on us.
These
pressures and perceived overload/ threat often remain for long periods
such
that the stress response overreacts or does not switch off.
The
result is chronic stress.
With
constantly ellevated levels of stress hormones is it any wonder
sufferers feel
exhasted, angry and tense and often become ill.