By: David Reeves
At times of stress or perceived stress, our adrenal glands, which are located above the kidneys, release into the bloodstream the hormones Adrenaline, Noradrenaline, and Cortisol.
These hormones, which are also produced by nerve cells, are very powerful, stimulating chemicals, which affect almost every organ in our body, including the intestines, appendix, eyes, bladder and tonsils. These hormones also switch off most metabolic activities, such as the digestive and reproductive systems, which are not needed at times of danger or perceived danger.
The release of these stimulating chemicals into the bloodstream is essential to us. In times of danger they give us the extra energy to help us to run away, or stay and fight (Fight / Flight.) Unfortunately, in this day and age we generally have nowhere to run to; nor do we have the opportunity to fight the danger, even if we could see or understand what it is that is threatening us. Because of this we have generated a new response to danger - we freeze, both mentally and physically. Now we have fight, flight or freeze.
Some of the first signs of the onset of stress on the body include alert breathing rhythms, quickening heart rate, raised blood pressure, nerve activation, muscle tension and release of essential body nutrients. These are all designed to give the body the power to cope with danger, or perceived danger.
When we go into Freeze mode, our body finds it difficult to dissipate the excessive build up of Adrenaline etc. If we do not dissipate these hormones and their effects from our system, our ability to produce the vital defence substances known as Interferons is drastically reduced. Interferons are antiviral proteins produced by cells that have been invaded by viruses. Cells that are under attack from viruses release Interferons to provide protection for other cells which may be open to attack from the invading viruses. They also provide protection against any other organism that tries to invade the body. So, if we experience prolonged or excessive stress, not only is our body under direct attack from within, it is also far less able to defend itself from even simple external infections such as the common cold. This makes it harder for your body to cope with a wide range of illnesses. The body and mind become more vulnerable to further stress, our general health declines, and we can enter a vicious downward spiral. This can give rise to negative attitudes and actions.
Some of the numerous negative effects of Stress:
- Minor health problems, such as upset stomach, headache, colds, flu, back pain, muscle cramps and missed menstrual periods can increase.
- One can suffer a loss of confidence, and can gain a feeling of low self-esteem, a feeling of hopelessness and depression can set in.
- A feeling of intense fatigue can follow you about all day. Even when you wake after sleep, you still feel fatigued and tired.
- Sleep patterns can become distorted, waking at 3 or 4 A.M..
- Indigestion and eating disorders
- Self-blame, guilt, cynicism and a sense of total failure set in.
- Anger and resentment at nothing in particular.
- A feeling that something is missing.
- You may find an extreme reluctance to go to work builds up, making it harder to face going to work each day.
- Self confidence is lower.
- Self esteem is lower.
- Sex drive is lower.
- Appetite can disappear or you may have a desire to go on an eating binge, especially with sweet, sugary foods.
If Stress is permitted to become established, it becomes a self-reinforcing process, giving rise to more and more negative actions and attitudes. This in turn leads to further stress and withdrawal. At the first signs of mental or physical discomfort, have a check-up with your doctor.
By keeping your stress under control you will find that your health will improve.
By improving your health, you will improve your ability to fight and control stress.
Don't ignore the symptoms of stress
Worry related stress can effect people who, on the surface, appear relaxed and confident. One thing that you can be sure of is that you are not the only one suffering from stress. Chronic worries and acute worries are the two main types of worry. Most people experience a mixture of both chronic and acute worries at times of upset or stress. You may become more of one type than the other. Please read the following descriptions; see which one you recognise the most:
Chronic worries. No matter how distracted you become, or how busy you are, your worries are never far from your thoughts. No matter how enjoyable things or activities used to be, chronic worries cast a dark cloud of gloom and despondency over everything that you do. Very severe chronic worries can lead to a general lack of interest in living, the loss of interest in the pleasures of life, a loss of the ability to enjoy things, and an inability to find pleasure in anything.
Acute worries. Can come to mind unbidden and without any effort on your part. Something you've heard or seen can trigger off a chain of associations that are negative, at first below the level of consciousness. Because this is going on below your level of consciousness, the stress may be overwhelming, even before you become aware of acute worries, leading to the condition referred to as Awfulising. This is where, by carrying the worry to absurd extremes, minor difficulties soon appear to be major problems. Hence the old term "Making a mountain out of a molehill".
The time that we are at our most vulnerable to attacks of both chronic and acute worrying, is in the hours before dawn. (Do you find yourself waking at 3 or 4 AM for no apparent reason?) Around this time of the morning our blood glucose levels and temperature are low. The metabolism is sluggish and our physical resistance is at its ebb. Our bodily state can and does exert a considerable influence over our moods. It is not surprising that any worries about relationships, career, money, health etc., chase each other endlessly around and around inside your head, thus driving sleep farther and farther away. You are now on the worry-go-round.
Worry solves nothing.
David Reeves, works as a Hypnoanalyst and Stress Management consultant in
Contact: Mindtech Associates
