The stress is the physiological reaction of your organism in which various defense mechanisms come into play to face a situation that is perceived as threatening or of increased demand. Stress is a natural response necessary for survival. When this natural response is given in excess, a tension overload occurs that affects the body and causes the appearance of diseases and pathological abnormalities that impede the normal development and function of the human body.
The response to stress is our particular way of facing and adapting to the various situations and demands that we are encountering, it is a response that appears when we perceive that our resources are not enough to face problems.
On many occasions when we are faced with high levels of stress, we feel unable to act and block these thoughts as a means of controlling it.
Some determinants are:
• The stressor
• The evaluation of the subject. This is how we perceive it subjectively, if it seems very serious, incapacitating or that could have serious consequences.
• The interaction between the stressor and the subject
Types of stressors
• External stimuli: financial, family problems, overwork, fear, loss of a loved one, a job, a move, etc.
• Internal stimuli: they belong to the psychophysical domain of the individual, for example, intense pain, illness, feelings of inferiority, sociological problems, among others.
For each individual, the source of the stress chain is very particular and may differ from one person to another, but various studies indicate that there are a series of events that stress most human beings:
Intense and extraordinary life events: death of a family member, divorce, birth of a child, illness or accident, moving, etc.
Daily events of less intensity: traffic jams, noise, discussions with colleagues or partners, etc.
Situations of sustained tension: prolonged illness, bad work environment, permanent marital disputes, sustained economic difficulties, etc.
The origins of stress
1. Our environment
The environment constantly bombards us with demands for adaptation, forcing us to endure noise, crowds, the demands of interpersonal relationships, rigid schedules, rules of conduct and many other threats, duties or responsibilities.
2. Our body
When the body detects a threat (both real and imaginary) physiological responses are triggered to allow, at first, a basic and adaptive fight-or-flight survival response.
When we are permanently stressed, these responses are no longer adaptive and interfere in our daily life, especially in typical physiological responses such as: alterations in the respiratory pattern, excessive muscular tension, palpitations, chest pain, tingling in the extremities, hot flashes or chills, tiredness, etc.
3. Our thoughts
The way of interpreting and cataloging our experiences, the way of seeing the future can serve both to relax us and to stress us out. Ask yourself what are the thoughts that occupy your brain most of the time? And how do they make you feel?
Difference between stress and anxiety
The cause of stress is the presence of a stressful situation. Anxiety is the stress that continues after the stressor has disappeared. It is an emotional response of apprehension to a concern that has occurred already and in absence of a clear stimulus.
Types of stress
Acute stress
• It is short term and disappears quickly, provoking the activation necessary to successfully complete a test or complicated situation.
• It is a type of positive stress. It happens when there is an increase in physical activity, enthusiasm and creativity. For example, playing a sport that you like or facing a challenge or situation that you find exciting.
• It is adaptive and stimulating, necessary for the development of life helping to keep alert and control dangerous situations.
Chronic stress
• Any type of stress that continues for weeks or months.
• You can get so used to chronic stress that you don’t realize it’s a problem.
• If you can’t find ways to control stress, it could cause health problems.
What happens in your body?
• Your body reacts by releasing hormones that make your brain more alert, your muscles tighten and increase your pulse, preparing to respond to a situation that causes stress.
• In the short term these reactions are good, it is the way your body protects itself.
• When you have chronic stress, your body stays alert even when there is no danger. Over time, this puts you at risk for health problems, since it affects many systems and devices in our body: hormonal, cardiovascular, muscular, digestive, etc.
Stress can cause physical and emotional symptoms such as:
•High blood pressure
•Heart failure
• Diabetes
• Obesity or excessive weight loss
• Depression or anxiety
• Skin problems, such as acne or eczema
• Menstrual problems
• Muscle tension that predisposes you to injury more easily
• Chronic fatigue
• Sleep disorders
• Memory problems
• Headaches
• Lack of energy or concentration
• Sexual problems
• Neck or jaw strain
• Digestive problems such as diarrhea, constipation or abdominal inflammation
• Use of alcohol or drugs for a false sense of well-being
How can we combat stress?
The best method to combat stress is based on knowing it well. The fundamental part is learning to identify what we feel, what is generating it and what consequences it has on me.
There are various relaxation techniques that help reduce high levels of stress:
• Active or physical techniques: They work from the muscle to the mind and are aimed at reducing muscle tone.
• Passive or mental techniques: They work to from the mind to the muscle for greater mental control.
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