Every second Pole goes to a doctor with ailments caused by a nervous lifestyle. Stress itself is not a bad thing. It is a kind of mobilization of the organism, the primal "flight or fight" reflex, which was supposed to allow humans to survive in the old days. Contemporary man, however, stress does more harm than good.
The problem is thatstress , i.e. the alarm signal, was rarely triggered by our ancestors, e.g. when they had to climb a tree to escape from an animal. We use this alarm much more often.
Stress is caused by all new situations, including positive ones. So the threats include divorce, dismissal, assault, as well as a wedding, winning a lottery ticket, promotion. It is also a leaky tap, standing in a traffic jam, grumpy mother-in-law, too loud radio behind the wall and a car going straight at us, an illness or an accident.
However, ifnervousnessor stage fright, e.g. before an exam or a conversation with the boss, are useful, because they mobilize us to a more or less literal fight, and thanks to this we think and act more efficiently, the frequent or constant state of being ready to repel an attack harms us more than helps us. This psychological stress weakens the body, leading to many diseases, from psychosomatic diseases tocancer .
Stress - hormonal brainstorm
A stressful situation (stressor) is a real shock for the body. There is a real hormone storm in the brain. The production of about 30 neurotransmitters (these are hormones responsible for transmitting signals between nerve cells) increases, each of which plays an important role in preparing for a fight. The command center of the hypothalamus sends impulses to the pituitary gland (a small gland just below the hypothalamus), which immediately starts releasing adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH). In turn, this hormone signals the adrenal glands to start producing the fighting hormones adrenaline, norepinephrine, cortisol and dopamine in full swing. They all work like adrenaline and are a kind of doping like adrenaline. They evoke euphoria and an extraordinary surge of energy.
Now the information about the threat reaches all organs with lightning speed. The body reduces the blood supply to those organs that it will not need to fight. Vessels narrowskin and smooth muscles. On the other hand, the coronary vessels dilate, which is why the heart beats harder, blood pressure rises. Since the body will need more fuel during the fight, the blood glucose level also rises.
Deepens and quickens your breathing, improves your hearing, and your eyes adapt to looking at a distance. In the event of a possible infection, the bone marrow and spleen accumulate leukocytes, which will destroy the germs if they enter the body. The number of platelets also increases so that any bleeding can be stopped more quickly. On the other hand, the sensitivity to pain decreases, because feeling it would only distract from what is important: being ready to fight or flee.
When does stress hurt?
The body's alarm reaction leaves no havoc if it is short-lived, followed by a rest phase, during which the strength is restored and the levels of combat hormones return to normal. We are talking then about good stress, which mobilizes us to act, inspires and increases our efficiency. Such stress allows you to overcome obstacles, overcome difficulties and try again in the event of failure. It is often accompanied by tremors in the arms and legs, palpitations, sweating, abdominal pain and diarrhea that disappear when the tension subsides.
When the stressor's effects last longer, then we enter the immune phase. The fight hormones are still produced with redoubled energy, but the body gets used to it, and although the nervous tension remains, the unpleasant symptoms characteristic of the alarm reaction subside.
If we do not release the tension in time, stress goes into the next phase - disarming and then destruction, which is the most dangerous for us, because it makes it difficult or even impossible to carry out our daily tasks, e.g. effective and creative work, reconciling all duties domestic. In addition, it makes us feel helpless in the face of many life situations, we lose self-confidence and he alth. Then the balance between burning resources and the possibility of their renewal is disturbed. All this systematically leads to the exhaustion of the body.
Stress - individual reaction
Often times, the same situation causes all signs of stress for one person, while for another it does not impress. This is because it is not the (objective) situation itself that causes the stress, but we give it meaning, either positive or negative. For example: we were made redundant. We can say - it's good, they underestimated me here, and thanks to the fact that it happened, I will mobilize myself to find something more interesting and better paid. Or to think otherwise - I will have nothing to live on toI am useless, I am sure I will not find another job now.
Our personality, upbringing and lifestyle are responsible for the perception of the event. Usually, the more prone to stress are the impatient, shy people who live in a hurry, take on too many responsibilities and pursue their goals at all costs. Stress also arises from life conflicts, states of insecurity, and repressed feelings. A person with a complex becomes irritable, more sensitive to criticism, he is powerless to the environment, and therefore stressed out.
Scientists argue that over 80% of the stress we feel has nothing to do with actual facts, but only results from the black scenarios we build or remembering unpleasant situations that have already happened. A friend let us down, my husband said something unpleasant. Instead of forgetting it, we keep digging up the wounds, winding the spiral. When a child arrives late from school, we can already imagine that she has been hit by a car.
People who are cheerful, friendly, and don't worry too much, tend to cope well with stress.