TEXT 2. CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF STRESS

Causes of stress.Stress consists of an event, called a stressor, plus how we feel about it,

how we interpret it, and what we do to cope with it. Common stressors include: the setting in

which we live, other people, places we go, our daily routine, family members, our job, time (too

little, too much), money, school, dating, our given health condition, a spoken word, a certain

event, a simple thought, etc.

Two words best relate to the actual cause of stress: change and threat. Either of both can

disturb the psyche. These changes and threats would probably fall into three possible categories:

anticipated life events, unexpected life events, accumulating life events.

What causes some people to be devastated and others motivated by the same event? Stress is

caused by the interaction between the events in a person's environment and how he/she

interprets these events. Modern stress theory agrees that what causes us stress is not what

happens, but how we perceive what happens. The way in which a stressor is interpreted, more

than the stressor's properties, predicts the intensity, nature, and duration of physiological and

psychological response. Often, our greatest source of stress is the tremendous pressure and

anxiety that we create internally with our thoughts and feelings.

Effects of stress.The body has a three-stage reaction to stress: Stage 1 - Alarm; Stage 2 –

Resistance; and Stage 3 - Exhaustion.

The Alarm Stage.Your body recognizes the stressor and prepares for fight or flight,

which is done by a release of hormones from the endocrine glands. These hormones cause an

increase in the heartbeat and respiration, elevation in the blood sugar level, increase in

perspiration, dilated pupils, and slowed digestion. You then choose whether to share this burst

of energy to fight or flee.

The Resistance Stage.This is a period of recovery and stabilization, during which the

individual adapts to the stress. Consequently, the individual does what he/she can to meet the

threat. Because the individual attempts to do what is necessary to meet the threat, the most

effective behaviour of which the person is capable of often comes forth.

The Exhaustion Stage.Stress is a natural and unavoidable part of our lives, but it

becomes a problem when it persists and becomes long term. Continuous stress will not enable

the important resistance step to take place. And you will go from step one - alarm directly to

step three - exhaustion. Stress is a problem because it is linked to a number of illnesses. It is

estimated that between 50 percent and 80 percent of all illnesses have emotional components

and are stress related. Stress can lead to such physiological responses as increased heart rate and

blood pressure.

Physical Effects of Stress.We do not bury our emotions dead - they remain alive in our

subconscious minds and intestines to hurt and trouble us. These physical problems are your

body's natural way of telling you that there is too much stress and tension in your life, and most

of us have a special physical organ or target area that lets us know when the stress is too great.

Do you know what your special target area is? Once you learned to tune into your own signals,

you will be able to recognize stress when it starts, before it takes a toll on your body. Physical

effects are: headaches, ulcers, asthma, common colds, skin rashes, allergies, dizziness, muscle

spasms, rapid heart rate, stomach aches, neck and shoulder tension, excessive sweating.

Another measuring tool for you to help recognize excessive stress in yourself and others

is through behavioural changes (effects): nervous tics, door slamming, fist clenching, tears, hair

twisting, jaw tightening, nail biting, grinding of teeth, apathy, depression, irritability, acts of

violence, impatience, changed eating/drinking habits, worry, boredom.

Date: 2016-01-03; view: 1131