Your body's response can save your life if, for instance, you have to suddenly jump out of the way of an out of control car. Stress produces a host of physiological and psychological responses that can heighten awareness, quicken reflexes and help your survive. But prolonged stress can lead to serious health problems and a reduced quality of life. Learning to manage stress can keep your healthier and happier.
Stress Response
When you're under stress, your heart rate increases, blood pressure and rate of respiration rise and your muscles tense. Your pituitary gland releases cortisol, which raises blood sugar, and adrenaline. All of these responses help you flee for your life or fight an opponent, hence the term "fight or flight response." But if your stress is worry over finances, concern about a looming work deadline, or annoyance with a loud neighbor, these physical responses don't serve any purpose beyond making you feel bad. Your anxiety levels rise, you may feel tired and you may have an upset stomach as a result of these chemical responses.
Health Effects
If stress continues, your body could put itself into a perpetual state of response, meaning your blood pressure remains elevated, your blood sugar levels stay above normal and your muscles remain tensed. Your immune response also lowers. Chronic stress contributes to heart attacks and stroke, gastrointestinal disorders and asthma. Stress may also make you more susceptible to illness
Brain Effects
Chronic stress impacts memory. Floods of cortisone in the body divert glucose from the brain. The brain's memory center, the hippocampus, uses glucose for energy. When the hippocampus can't get enough energy, memory suffers. This may be why people lose their memory of traumatic events. A lifetime of stress explains why people lose short term memory in old age. Stress also affects the ability to learn.
Emotional Effects
Chronic stress can lead to increased anxiety, difficulty sleeping and can contribute to depression. In some people stress reduces the level of serotonin, a brain chemical associated with feelings of well being. Stress can also lead to difficulties in relationships with others.
Managing Stress
Since stress effects people in different ways, you may have to try different methods before you find the coping mechanism that works best for you. Some people find physical exercise helps release stress and enables them to cope better with future stresses. Others use meditation or prayer to cope with stress. Still others find that therapy can help them gain a perspective on stressors in their lives and cope better.
