What is Stress?
Stress is a situation that triggers a particular biological response. When you perceive a threat or a major challenge, chemicals and hormones surge throughout your body. Stress triggers your fight-or-flight response in order to fight the stressor or run away from it. Typically, after the response occurs, your body should relax. Too much constant stress can have negative effects on your long-term health and Stress is a response to a threat in a situation, whereas anxiety is a reaction to the stress. Legg (2018).
Stress can be either good or bad. Good stress can motivate people to prepare or perform, like when they need to take a test or interview for a new job, whereas bad stress results in negative feelings such as distrust, anger and depression (e.g. the death of a loved one). Bad stress can be acute or chronic and may lead to serious health problems. Much of the stress we experience is based on our own perception of a situation; therefore, sources of stress can vary greatly from one person to another. What any individual perceives as a stressor is a stressor for that person, regardless of another’s evaluation of that situation. Whether one perceives a situation as a threat, either psychological or physical, is crucial in determining the behavioural response (whether it is fleeing, fighting, or cowering in fear) and the physiologic response (calmness or heart palpitations and elevated cortisol levels). Aitken (2018)
It is clear that stress has a significant effect on health. It can affect the onset of, or susceptibility to disease. Stress can also affect the progression or course of disease, even when there is another cause of the disease; and can affect one’s recovery from disease. Chronic stress has been linked to cancer, diabetes, obesity, and alcohol and substance abuse. In addition, developmental abnormalities and neuro-degeneration can occur due to an overload of stress. This is particularly relevant to children under chronic stress, When you need help, reach out to the people who care about you. Talk to a trusted adult, such as a parent, other relative, a school counselor, or a coach. Aitken (2018)
Reference:
Legg T. (2018). Everything You Need to Know About Stress. Retrieved from:
Aitken L. (2018). Health24. Retrieved from:
Comments