Stress is a psychological and physiological response to events that upset our personal balance in some way. In small doses, stress can be a good thing. It can give you the push you need, motivating you to do your best, and to stay focused and alert. Prolonged stress, however, can take a serious toll on our mental and physical health and well being.
Our body's stress response is that of "fight-or-flight" which involves a cascade of biological changes that prepare us for emergency action. When danger is sensed, the brain's hypothalamus sets off a chemical alarm. The sympathetic nervous system responds by releasing a flood of stress hormones, including adrenaline, norepinephrine and cortisol. These hormones race through the bloodstream.
Heart rate and blood flow increase, blood vessels constrict, pupils dilate, and our blood sugar ramps up. Simultaneously, non-essential body processes are suppressed: the digestive and reproductive systems slow down, growth hormones are switched off, and the immune response is inhibited. Symptoms manifest that put our body in an alarm phase where we are consciously aware something is not right.
This response is challenging, but we can counteract it by learning how to evoke the relaxation response. This is a state of deep rest that can bring our system back into balance, reducing stress hormones, slowing down our muscles and organs, and increasing blood flow to the brain. The relaxation response brings a renewed sense of well-being and vitality and returns our bodies to homeostasis.
Many times however, stress continues unaddressed, and our body will go into an adaptation stage where it is symptom free. This is not a sign of good health as you can have a life threatening disease like heart disease and experience any symptoms. When the adaptation phase collapses, our bodies enter the exhaustion phase where it is more vulnerable to constitutional or inherited "weak links" and there is a re-emergence of original alarm symptoms that are much worse. We react to stress on the conscious and unconscious levels and it is in the unconscious level that biofeedback can address the stressors.
Causes of Stress
There are many causes of stress which include:
Allergens - environmental, food sensitivities, emissions, pollution, pollen, tobacco smoke
Bacteria and viruses
Chemicals - pesticides, paints, growth hormones, herbicides, cleaning agent, man-made chemicals
Dehydration
Emotional Issues - fear, anxiety, anger, depression etc.
Employment
Exercise
Fast Foods
Financial Problems
Fungi and fungal infections - ingested or inhaled
Genetically Modified Foods
Headaches, Migraines
Heavy Metals-arsenic, lead, mercury
Lack of Sleep
Medical Conditions
Nutritional deficiencies
Overworking
Pain-any kind, mental or physical
Parasites
Prescription Drugs
Psychological Conditions
Radiation-cell phones, microwaves, computers, x-rays
Relationship Problems-any kind
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Diana says: | 2009-02-06 16:14:20 |
| Thanks, this is a good article on stress. It''s amazing the things that can cause stress. | ||
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