What is Stress?
Stress response is an ancestral adaptation mechanism wired in our physiology and necessary for survival. When we are exposed to the stressor that our brain via amygdala in the limbic system perceives as a threat it signals hypothalamus to activate Fight/Flight/Freeze defense mechanisms and to release stress hormones adrenaline and norepinephrine into the blood stream. When the stressor is not defeated during this initial stress response our brain will further signal hypothalamus/pituitary/adrenal axis to release cortisol and other chemicals to keep this response active as long as is needed to resolve stress. As a result of this a myriad of physiological reactions take place to prepare the body for quick action. Extra glucose and fat are released from the liver for extra energy, muscles tense up, cardiac output and respiration increases, digestion slows down to preserve energy, pupils dilate for better vision.
Certain amount of stress called Eu-stress that is within our coping ability is good because it makes us stronger and better equipped to meet further demands. It is only when duration or intensity of stress exceeds our ability to cope it turns into maladaptive Di-stress. Our initial state of health and stress management skills, social and spiritual support decide of successful resolution of this incoming threat. Stress therefore is always subjective. What poses a challenge for one person can be debilitating for another.
To effectively deal with ever changing inner and outer environment body has involuntary feedback system called homeostasis that adjusts the level of inner activities to maintain equilibrium. The homeostasis is controlled by the Autonomic Nervous System that maintains respiration, blood pressure, cardiac output, emotional expression and others. Sympathetic branch of ANS controls Fight/Flight stress response and Parasympathetic branch controls the body Rest/ Digest relaxation mode. It should be a balance between the two to maintain homeostasis. When stress cannot be resolved the Sympathetic System dominates and relaxation cannot be induced. This chronic tension over time puts strain on every system of the body and mind.
Hans Seyle MD. (1907-1982) considered an “Einstein of stress” created a Comprehensive Medical Model that explains how stress causes ill health. He observed that stress can be caused by many factors such as: toxicity, infection, inflammation, dehydration, radiation, physical and emotional trauma, deficiency or excess of nutrients, EMF, mental, emotional, social and spiritual factors among others. He observed that if stress cannot be successfully managed body will go through predictable phases in its encounter with stress as follow: Alarm, Adaptation, Exhaustion, Cell, Organ, Body System an Organism Death. During initial reaction to stress body puts on Alarm and produces symptoms such as inflammation, couth, anxiety in its attempt to throw off toxicities of stress and to re-balance itself. When stress continues body will Adapt and assume stress as a new reality, here symptoms go away from habituation. Seyle MD. brought awareness to the medical community that Being Symptom Free is not always a sign of good health because stress still operates at deeper subclinical levels and the body still manages to compensate but at the expense of its healing energies, and nutritional reserves. When stress still continues past this phase body defense mechanisms begin to break down and Exhaustion follows where organs dysfunction or produce organic changes, they atrophy, hypertrophy or produce malignancy. Eventually chronic diseases of the various systems of the body and mind develop.