Causes of Stress

By Carole Somerville

 Everyone needs a certain amount of stress. Without some stress life would be boring. Stress can actually help towards getting the job done. But the tension it builds up in the body can lead to illness.

When doctors talk about stress, they are referring to the body’s non-specific response to any demand. This can be physical, emotional, mental or psychological.

Intense joy or grief can cause stress and both bring about the same physical responses to it.

What Causes Stress?

Every time reaction to a situation is stressful, the body chemistry fundamentally changes. Stress begins in the mind. A situation seems to be developing that requires our immediate attention – a dog running loose on a busy road, a financial crisis, someone becoming hostile, footsteps coming closer in the darkness of the night.

Rapid signals cause the adrenal glands to produce adrenalin. Within seconds the heart is pounding, breathing changes, stored glucose is released into the bloodstream, muscles tense and eyes dilate. The body is ready for fight or flight.

Physical Affects of Stress

When this happens, the body diverts energy from normal repair and maintenance jobs such as cleansing or digesting. If stress situations occur regularly, this can lead to a permanently raised level of adrenaline secretion in the body. This can in turn cause excessive strain on the heart, weaken the immune system and, in extreme cases, result in illness.

How stressed is being stressed out?

Many people will complain of being stressed, when what they actually mean is that their lives are too busy and they have little time to relax. Some people even say “I’m so stressed out” with a mix of exasperation and pride, as if it were a badge of courage and that those who aren’t stressed live unimportant lives

Symptoms of Stress

But for those living in a constantly agitated state, their body is being sapped of energy. They might feel exhausted and nervous, their immune system may falter, and sleep is disrupted.

Someone under extreme stress might fall asleep after meals, get irritable and forgetful, lose concentration and get headaches. Often people turn to stimulants, like coffee, tea, cola drinks, chocolate and cigarettes to keep them going. Or to alcohol, sleeping pills and tranquillisers to help them relax.

Some people can become addicted to stress without even realising, so when they take time off, they become ill. This is when their real state of adrenal exhaustion is revealed.

Stress Management

There are various ways to manage stress, the most common ones being:

• Drug Treatment: There are many drugs that will ease the symptoms of stress, but no one drug cures it. Pain killers might be used for headaches and sedatives for anxiety.
• Herbal Remedies: Many herbal remedies may help, such as St John’s Wort, Milk Thistle, Valerian and Ginseng.
• Change of Lifestyle: To really cure stress an honest look at lifestyle and health habits is needed. Pay attention to nutrition: eat slow-releasing carbohydrates, such as fruit, whole grains, lentils, beans, brown rice and fish. Drink lots of water and reduce caffeine containing drinks. Nowadays there are plenty of coffee alternatives available.
• Exercise: Exercise plays an important role in energy and stress resistance. It doesn’t have to be costly. Regular walks each day could make a big difference after even a short time. Exercise might also help people to sleep better.

Time can’t be made. But by taking it and using it wisely and allowing the spirit and soul to catch up whenever necessary, stress will cease to be such a controlling influence in life!