Find out what is stress, and learn the most common terms and definitions that are associated with stress.
Stress affects us all to varying degrees. It’s a natural reaction to anything that is perceived as a threat. When we are stressed our body prepares for action – to fight, or to run away.
We all feel stress at times, especially when dealing with challenges and life changing events, such as the loss of a loved one, pressure at work, or financial troubles.
Stress is natural and helps us rise to the challenge, or get things done, but when it’s too intense, too frequent, and inappropriate, it has a negative impact on our physical and mental health. Excessive stress can lead to many conditions such as anxiety, exhaustion and depression.
It’s important to understand stress and it’s effect on our health. Below, you’ll find out the meaning of stress, as well as the most common terms and definitions that are associated with stress.
What is stress?
According to Hans Selye, the father of stress, “Stress is the non-specific response of the body to any demand for change.”
It’s what happens inside of us, when we are exposed to a stressor (see below).
When we are stressed, our bodies release the hormone adrenaline (epinephrine), which leads to a cascade of changes, including increased attention, heart rate, and respiration. This evolutionary mechanism allows us to jump into action and is essential for our survival in threatening situations.
Stress is an acute survival response, but due to our modern, hyper-stimulated lives, it has become a chronic state that makes us feel anxious, irritable and out of control.
Long-term stress can lead to many health problems, such as high blood pressure, heart disease, obesity and diabetes.
What is a stressor?
A stressor is a chemical agent, biological agent, environmental condition, situation, or event that causes stress to an organism. It can be internal, or external, real, or imagined.
A strong cup of coffee is a stressor, as is a lion that wants to eat you, as is the fear of some future event. The simplest way to think of a stressor is anything that triggers a stress response within us.
Common stressors include:
- Caffeine
- Alchohol
- Sugar
- Drugs
- Pathogens
- A demanding boss
- Sports competition
- Exams
- Tense relationships
- Death of a loved one
- Loss of a job
- Financial worries
- Mental, or physical abuse
Stressors come in different intensities and frequencies throughout life, so it’s important to be aware of them and learn some simple techniques that can help us avoid them, limit them, and increase our capacity to deal with them.
What is the fight-or-flight response?
The fight-or-flight-response is an automatic physiological reaction to any perceived threat. It involves activation of the sympathetic nervous system and results in the following physical changes:
- Increased heart rate
- Increased blood flow
- Increased rate of respiration
- Dilation of pupils
- Sharper vision
- Dry mouth
- Butterflies in the stomach
- Muscles tremors
This response prepares the body for action, in order to survive a threatening situation by fighting, or running away.
What is eustress?
A little bit of stress is a good thing. It forces us to respond and adapt to the demands of life. Through stress, we grow stronger and get better at coping with a particular stressor in the future.
For example, lifting weights overloads our muscles and causes them to break down, which stimulates repair and growth. We get stronger and bigger in response to consistent weight training.
Another example of ‘good stress’, is when we set and achieve a goal. We create a stressor (the goal) that forces us to adapt, learn and grow beyond our current level, in order to reach it.
Any kind of positive stress is known as Eustress, and makes us stronger, more confident, and more resilient. We need eustress to live productive, meaningful and rewarding lives.
What is distress?
Distress occurs when stress is too severe, frequent, and inappropriate. If we can’t manage, recover from, or adapt to the stress in our lives, we break down physically, mentally and emotionally.
Distress affects us in many ways. It can make us feel tired, irritable, angry, and depressed. It can reduce our energy, motivation, immunity and self-esteem.
An example of distress is when we’re in debt and struggling to get out of it. The constant fear of not being able to pay bills and put food on the table, is overwhelming and makes us scared for our future.
It’s important to get the right balance of stress and recovery, so we can feel good and continue to enjoy life.
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