Why So Stressed?

What is stressing you out the most during these uncertain times?

What is stress?

Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can stem from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, freighted, angry, or nervous.

Stress is your body’s reaction to a challenge or demand. In short bursts, stress can be positive, such as when it helps you avoid impending danger,  or meet a tight deadline. But when stress lasts for a long time, it may harm your health.¹

How does stress harms our nervous system ?

The effects of stress on the nervous system have been investigated for 50 years (Thierry et al., 1968)². Some studies have shown that stress has many effects on the human nervous system and can cause structural changes in different parts of the brain (Lupien et al., 2009)³.

Stress on our immune system ?

Stress effects our sympathetic nervous system response. Your body’s fight-or-flight mechanism is a natural, life-saving system that’s highly efficient and effective when you have to use your muscles quickly. However, the stress of modern life can cause it to short circuit. If you’re under constant stress, rather than short-lived or occasional stress, the hypothalamus, a tiny region at the base of your brain, triggers an alarm that stays on, ⁴which can lead to devastating effects on your entire body’s inartistic & holistic ‘mechanical’ system.

Stress & the negative effects on the brain?

Stress can literality kill off brain cells , and even reduce the size of the brain. Chronic stress has a shrinking effect on the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for memory and learning.⁵

How can stress make my brain smaller?

Chronic stress can lead to atrophy of the brain mass and decrease its weight (Sarahian et al., 2014)⁶. These structural changes bring about differences in the response to stress, cognition and memory (Lupien et al., 2009⁷).

What is stress negative effects on the body?

Studies have found many health problems related to stress. Stress seems to worsen or increase the risk of conditions like obesity, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, depression, gastrointestinal problems, and asthma⁸.

Stress and our moods?

Stress affects our Mood, cognition and behaviour. It is well established that chronic stress can lead to depression. It is also a recurrent condition – people who have experienced depression are at risk for future bouts of depression, particularly brought up under stress.

There is also evidence of chronic stress effects on hormones in the brain, including cortisol and corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). High, prolonged levels of cortisol have been associated with mood disorders- as well as mentioned , the shrinkage of the hippocampus. It can also cause many physical problems, including irregular menstrual cycles in woman⁹.

Stress and our stomachs ?

Roughly 25 percent of people say stress gives them an upset stomach or indigestion, according to a survey by the American Psychological Association. Stress can affect this brain-gut communication. Prolonged anxiety slows digestion as your nervous system directs its energy toward the organs and muscles most critical to survival. This, in turn, can cause nausea, constipation, cramping, and bloating and in some cases trigger gastro-related diseases. ¹⁰

Good Stress?

Good stress, or what psychologists refer to as “eustress,” is the type of stress we feel when we are excited. Our pulse quickens and our hormones surge, but there is no threat or fear.¹¹ 

For immediate, short-term situations, stress can be beneficial to your health. It can help you cope with potentially serious situations. Your body responds to stress by releasing hormones that increase your heart and breathing rates and ready your muscles to respond.¹²

According to Daniela Kaufer is an associate professor at UC Berkeley , who studies the biology of stress, Manageable stress increases alertness and performance. And by encouraging the growth of stem cells that become brain cells, stress improves memory.¹³

Long term effects of chronic stress

A study showed that people who experienced “multiple childhood traumatic stressors” are at higher risk of premature death than people who did not (Brown et al., 2009)^14.

Another study has shown that high levels of stress in early childhood or adolescence are associated with negative health outcomes in adulthood (Farrell et al., 2017)¹⁵. Traumatic events (in childhood or otherwise) are associated with increased long-term risk for cardiovascular disease (Cohen et al., 2007)¹⁶.

Know Your Stressors and Avoid Creating Stress for Others

Know what is causing you stress in your life, a simple tool we can use in NLP we can identify where you need to make immediate changes in your life to get you where you need to be and live more harmoniously , a lot of the time we become accustomed to ‘how things are’, not realising that we have the power to change how things ‘should be’.

Not to say stress is not good; stress is a motivator for change, knowing how to balance your stress responses and to keep yourself in check – whilst being happy & healthy – and experiencing the right balance & dosage of stress while watching for your health & wellbeing.

Causing stress for others?

Be a little caring towards others , and watch your communication. Try to see other’s point of view. If you need help with communication during these times I have published an eBook on the topic of effective communication. (Click here and I will send it to you for free , no strings attached)

How can we use the pandemic to re-align and check in with ourselves?

Some tips to limit and manage stress , especially while still being fresh in January, we can start making some habits to control our stress levels and use it to our advantage ( based on an article in the Mental Health Foundation of the UK):