This series of articles will define the problem of stress in laymen terms, explore the impact of stress on our body and life, and suggest practical guidelines to tackle the problem at its root.

We always tend to think that  stress is the outcome of modern fast paced lifestyle. Nothing is far from the truth! Stress has been an integral part of human survival since the beginning of time, right from the time when Eve showed the forbidden apple to Adam. Even now these two (Eve and the forbidden apple) are two important causes of stress :-)!

An optimum amount of stress indeed is a positive force which helps us take up the challenges that life throws at us. But, like everything else in this world, stress, when it passes a certain limit begin to harm our body and mind- slowly but surely ravaging our systems provoking a chain of neuro-immuno-chemical and biological effects on the body and psyche.

Researchers view stress as the psychological and physiological condition that a person experiences when a situation is perceived as threatening, harmful or demanding.

Hans Selye, the father of modern stress research, defined Stress as "any event which may make demands upon the organism, and set in motion a non-specific bodily response which leads to a variety of temporary or permanent physiological or structural changes".

Confusing? Concentrate on the three important clauses:

1. Demands upon the organism: Stress calls for action (response) from us.

2. Non Specific Bodily Response: Whether the stress inducing event is negative/harmful (death of a dear friend), or positive/exciting (winning a 1 million lottery), the physiological response of our body will be similar! Meaning, there is no specific response to a particular event. All events evoke the same type of response, though the intensity may vary.

3. Temporary or permanent physiological or structural changes: The after effects of stress can cause either temporary or permanent changes in our body.

Our body responds to any stressful stimulus by initiating about 1400 different activities including the dumping of a variety of chemical mediators into our blood stream. Imagine this happening on a regular basis! Stress is indeed a “Proxy Killer” as most of the time stress goes unnoticed and other secondary causes( which had been probably induced, sustained and aggravated by stress) like heart attack, blood pressure or even cancer take the blame for the person’s ill-health and eventual death!

Psycho-neuro-immunology has grown in leaps and bounds during the last two decades and our knowledge of response of body to stress has also grown with it.

A. The automatic physiological reaction of body to stress is known as the General Adaptation Syndrome (GAS):

GAS has three stages:

1. The Stage of Alarm Reaction
2. The Stage of Resistance
3. The Stage of Exhaustion

1.The Stage of Alarm Reaction  

This is also known as the 'fight or flight' response. As soon as our body is faced with a stressful situation, our body explodes with a sudden surge of energy with flooding of hundreds of hormones and chemical activators into the blood stream. We become alert and ready to meet any threat.

The main players at this stage are heart, lungs, brain, nervous system and the muscles, all stimulated by the release of hormones. Arousal is initiated by hypothalamus by release of endorphins, the natural painkillers. At the same time, adrenaline is secreted by the adrenal glands. Adrenaline causes palpitations, increased blood pressure and release of vital nutrients. It also causes muscle tension and makes breathing faster and shallower. Nor-adrenaline is also secreted, and is associated with positive ecstatic arousal. Another hormone, Cortisol, converts glycogen stored in the liver into blood sugar, thus stimulating the brain and whole body with instant energy.

In males, the hormone Testosterone is released, and provides the required surge of strength. Thyroxin, released by thyroid gland, stimulates the metabolic system and regulates the oxygen consumption. Our digestive system slows down, as blood is diverted to essential organs required to meet the immediate threat.

2.The Stage Of Resistance

Once the alarm reaction is established and the immediate threat is over, the body moves onto a resistance phase, where the bodily functions put on alert are reverted back to a near normal state. The heart rate, respiratory rate and metabolic activities come down to a maintenance level; the body is still ready and alert. More cortisol, thyroxin etc are released to speed up the tissue repair, which may have been damaged during stress.

3. The Stage Of Exhaustion

Emotions such as anger, anxiety and impatience etc are continuous stress stimulators, and without our knowledge, our body is put in (and stays in!) a 'fight' mode. Overdose of adrenaline often causes irritability and uneasiness. Nor-adrenaline excess makes us feel disconnected and high. Too much of cortisol will suppress the immune system, making us vulnerable to a host of diseases. Extra sodium is retained, affecting the cardiovascular and excretory systems adversely.

Thus our body goes into exhaustion and breakdown due to the side effects of continuous, uncontrolled stress. Emotionally, we are depressed, anxious, disoriented, insecure and frustrated. If this situation is allowed to proceed unchecked; family breakdown, mental illness, work absence,  alcoholism or drug dependency gradually step in to further complicate the stress condition.

These stages occur on their own, though the intensity may vary depending upon our coping capabilities.

B. At the conscious level, psychologists say we respond to stress in two major levels:

1. Primary appraisal:

• Decide if the situation is threatening

• Evaluate our  internal and external resources to deal with the problem

• Choose what to do

Thus we do something to limit the impact of the stress.

2. Secondary appraisal: 

• Evaluation of our efforts to deal with the stressful situation: has it worked?

• Continued appraisal till the threat is no longer present or felt.
  
  We are likely to feel less stress if we feel competent to deal with any given situation. We are likely to feel more stress if we feel it over our heads. Illness, tiredness and drug or alcohol addiction can also increase our stress over situations that we might otherwise take in a stride.

 

Next : What are the Different Types of Stress?