The Physiological and Psychological Effects of Stress on The Human Body
Let’s Talk About Stress
Many men, women and youth are keeping themselves in a constant loop of ‘busyness’ resulting in stress. Are you wondering if you’ve been stretching yourself out too thin and whether your body’s been trying to tell you to slow down?
Stress is your body’s natural response to threat and it reacts with physical, cognitive, behavioural and emotional responses. During the early stages of human evolution, our ‘paleo ancestors’ were literally placed in threatening and harmful situations by being faced with potential wild animal attacks. Their bodies reacted with their ‘fight or flight’ responses triggering the release of cortisol. Over time, as humans evolved we no longer find ourselves living in the wild with vicious animals; however, we are still confronted with stress in other forms. Your daily life and busyness are the new ‘vicious’ - Personal relationships, work and money are daily stressors for most people.
THE BODY’S RESPONSE TO STRESS
Stress response triggers changes in the nervous, endocrine and immune systems. Physiologically, the sympathetic nervous system, the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the behavioural flight-or-flight response are activated.*
Cortisol, a steroid hormone gets released into the bloodstream by the adrenal glands.
An increase in heart rate and blood pressure.
A redirection of blood to larger muscle groups.
Airways are constricted leading to a shortness of breath and rapid breathing.
The gastrointestinal tract - changes in how fast food gets digested.
Increased blood-glucose levels.
Muscles get tense.
Many of these physiological responses to stress are activated by the sympathetic nervous system which also triggers a rush of adrenaline throughout the entire body.
WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF STRESS?
Again, today’s causes of stress are related to keeping yourself in a constant loop of busyness which is mainly caused by feelings of inadequacy.
The need to feel accepted with a particular group of people such your colleagues or your peer group. You get into people pleasing and begin to undermine your values and compromise your well-being.
Excessive workouts prevent your body in returning to a good state of homeostasis and keep in a state of stress.
Worrying The Canadian Payroll Association reported 2019 survey findings that money was a the main source of worry for over 43% for employed Canadian workers.
Long work days In 2014 it was reported that nearly 9% of Canadians are working over 50 hours a week
Workplace stress which includes feeling isolated, under-valued and over-worked.
Social media causes inadequacy about your life, increases feelings of loneliness and increases anxiety and depression.
Pressure to succeed - many young people are constantly doing more in an effort to uphold perceived expectations of them.
Relationships that intertwined with control, and a lack of understanding and setting healthy boundaries.
