Are you over-stressed ?
What is stress?
Stress is a feeling that's created when you react to certain events. It's the body's way of rising to a challenge and preparing to meet a tough situation with focus, strength, stamina, and heightened alertness. Stress becomes a problem when you become
over-stressed and it starts to affect how you cope with day to day stuff.
How does stress affect the body?
The human body responds to events that provoke
stress (stressors) by activating the nervous system and specific hormones. The hypothalamus signals the adrenal glands to produce more of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol and release them into the bloodstream. These hormones speed up heart rate, breathing rate,
blood pressure, and metabolism. The physical changes prepare you to react quickly and effectively to handle the pressure of the moment. This natural reaction is known as the
stress response. Working properly, the body's stress response improves your ability to perform well under pressure.
What causes over-stress?
Stress affects everybody in a different way. What causes one person to become over-stressed may not have the same affect on someone else. Many things may cause people to become
over-stressed, including:
- exams
- problems at school or work
- sexual, physical or emotional abuse
- relationships
- new responsibilities
- moving to a new place
- a traumatic event - such as the read more
