The term “stress” was coined by the Canadian scientist Hans Selye, borrowing it from the materials of strength. Stress is pressure, stress caused by the impact of the environment on an object and means fatigue of the material caused by this stress. Since then, the word "stress" has become international and means a certain psychophysical state of a person. You can try for a long time to define "stress", but one thing is for sure that "stress" is the opposite of calmness.
So what exactly is stress?
Stress is the body's adaptive response to changes in the environment for which the body was not prepared.
Stress is necessary. They teach organisms to adapt to new, often extreme situations, help them survive, mobilize forces, and enrich them with new experiences.
First of all, the nerves of our body respond to a strong signal, through which this signal enters the brain. The brain processes the information received, decides on the response, and, again, a command is transmitted through the nerves to certain organs.
A strong stimulus also stimulates the pituitary gland, which secretes adrenocorticotropic hormone. This hormone, together with the blood, entering the adrenal glands, induces them to release adrenaline, which, in turn, stimulates the acceleration of the heart, an increase in blood pressure and tension of large muscles. The body is prepared to either flee from danger or fight.
The same Hans Selye noted that stress causes three reactions of the body to long-term exposure:
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1. mobilization of all mental reserves. The body rebels against negative emotions.
2. addictive, i.e. resistance to stress.
And if the load continues, then
3. nervous and physical exhaustion, which causes a sharp weakening of the whole organism.
(For example, try to clench your fist as hard as possible and stay like that for a while. Soon it will seem to you that a clenched fist is a familiar state and you can strain it even more, etc.)
First of all, our vessels react to stressful conditions, their walls narrow, and vascular spasms at the time of strong nervous tension can lead to a sharp increase in blood pressure, impaired cardiac activity and even cardiac arrest.
For example, an ulcer of the stomach or duodenal ulcer is caused by the stress of the whole organism, which causes vasospasm in the walls of the stomach and local circulatory disorders of the mucous membrane. Its resistance to increased secretion of gastric juice and its increased acidity decreases. Gastric juice eats away at the mucous membrane, so an ulcer appears.
Under the influence of any stress, the brain releases a stress hormone into the bloodstream, which, with prolonged exposure, leads to disruption of work:
- Heart (tachycardia, increased blood pressure, stroke, heart attack)
- Stomach
- Gallbladder, liver
- Digestive tract (stomach ulcers, 12 duodenal ulcers, indigestion, irritation of the colon)
- Adrenal glands (adrenaline rush)
- Kidney
- Genital organs in women (blockade of the ovulation process, menstrual irregularities, infertility due to a nervous or mental disorder, inflammation of the bladder)
- In men (difficulty in erection, decreased sperm activity, premature ejaculation)
- Skin (eczema, hives, scaly lichen, acne)
Often people in a state of stress behave as if they do not have enough air: take deep breaths, yawn. The reason for this is a violation of the functions of the diaphragm, which can be observed on an X-ray, if you provoke a stressful state in the patient with some unpleasant conversation.
Prolonged stress reduces the body's resistance to disease. The immune system, which is responsible for mobilizing the body's defenses, weakens. The number of lymphocytes in the blood decreases, which are necessary to fight bacteria, viruses, tumors.
The risk of illness and even death increases. The most dangerous weakening of the immune system is found in people experiencing severe deaths from those closest to them.
The emotional consequences of stress are anxiety, sleep disturbances, memory problems, and the ability to concentrate.
Depression develops in severe cases
What we eat and drink is critical to the body's resistance. And, therefore, it affects resistance to stress.
Vitamin B1 - neutralizes emotional imbalance. Contained in yeast, grain products, meat offal and black bread, it is destroyed by abuse of alcohol, white bread and coffee.
Vitamin B5 - helps to overcome fatigue caused by nervous tension. It has a calming effect on the adrenal glands, preventing excessive release of adrenaline into the blood as a result of stress.
Vitamin B6 - softens the external manifestations of stress. It is used with preparations containing magnesium.
Vitamin C - reduces nervousness and tension.
In addition, chromium, zinc, lithium and magnesium "amortize" the state of emotional tension.
Medicine considers stress to be a physiological phenomenon, somewhat reminiscent of a spasm of blood vessels - we feel a sudden heartbeat, heaviness in the stomach, dry throat, muscle tension. When stress goes beyond the allowed limits, you can get seriously ill.
Sleep is disturbed, memory weakens, all diseases adhere to a weakened body.
The World Health Organization calls stress the disease of the century. Stress cannot be completely avoided, however, its negative effects can be minimized.
It is important to remember that everything that the Soul experiences the Body makes visible. Every feeling that takes possession of us is reflected on our body.
We get covered with goose bumps if we have something exciting ahead of us.
A simple idea of strenuous action leads to a rise in blood pressure and muscle tension, although no physical action is performed.
Bad news hits in the stomach - we cannot digest it.
Bile spills out in anger
Heart pounds in throat with joy or falls with fear.
Isn't there enough proof that we:
- We blush with embarrassment, - We cry from sadness, - We rejoice with joy, - We grow pale with fear, - "the soul goes into the heels", - "hair stands on end."
Interestingly, the connection between emotional and physical sensations is reflected even in language. We talk:
"This is a headache for me" or "it sits in my liver." And everyone understands what this is about.
When you are ready to cry, you feel like "a lump is stuck in your throat."
Feeling a sense of relief, we say: "The stone fell from the soul."
Each person is 100% responsible for all their actions and thoughts. Our every thought creates our future. The ancients said, "Look at your life - and you will see your thoughts." Everything we think about causes a physical reaction in our body.
Thought has an active effect on the body at the moment, including chemical and muscle reactions.
Good memories lead to the release of endorphins by the endocrine glands, which create pleasant sensations, and bad thoughts lead to the release of toxins.
And all this happens in the present
And the first advice: Choose pleasant thoughts for yourself - and this will help you get rid of many problems.
Remember: thoughts, emotions, physical activity, food, environment, people, and more are natural sources of stress.
L / W correction will help you relieve the tension caused by the source of stress. One hand is placed on the forehead, the other on the back of the head. The exercise is combined with deep breathing. This exercise is taken from life. After all, you yourself noticed when a person is having a hard time, he himself puts his hand on his forehead, unconsciously touching the stress output points that are under the frontal tubercles. this exercise helps to restore blood circulation in the brain, and to look at the problem consciously.
Deep breathing is also an ancient way of dealing with stress, relieves anxiety, balances the autonomic nervous system, stimulates the immune system, and in itself helps to eliminate toxins.
Talking about stress today, I would like to note the positive role of stress in our life. Nervous experiences often help maintain tone, fill life with meaning. Without such stimulation, you can simply lose interest in everything.
Good stress brings about positive changes in the body. Successful passing of the exam, a successful trip can be called a victory, this is a great example of good stress. Victory is the feeling of mastering a difficult situation.
Physiologically good stress is characterized by the production of stimulants such as endorphins, sex hormones.
And it is very important that our emotions are balanced between negative and positive aspects.