Signs of Stress
What are some of the signs of stress?
It's hard to tell the difference Melanie. In addition, mental stress can turn into real physical problems. Attacking stress head on, early, is a healthy approach.
Sometimes it is difficult for me to differentiate between "physical" signs and symptoms of stress and actually having a "real" headache or some other physical complaint. I am learning to differentiate them but it takes focus !! Being able to "talk" about it with another instructor helps to "lighten" the load as well.
Multiple and dependent on the person, their genetics, and their personality to cope with the stress....and anything you learn to do to control them or not learn such as bad habits developed over time.
Here it is simple: The stress response short-term have all the symptoms of the "flight or fight" response when that tiger is running after you. The body shunts all your blood away from the intestines and stomach and kidneys (because they aren't important when you life is in danger) and shunted to your brain, lungs, heart, and muscles so that you can run or fight. Blood sugar increases so that you have the energy needed for the run or fight. Your pupils open so you can see more clear, and all organs not needed for survival (including the immune system) are slowed down to give sugar, blood and energy to all organs that are required for survival.
This is all great when you are running from the lion or running to class late because traffic was aweful. Short-term, it won't hurt you except give you a headache, make you anxious...the symptoms you feel when you try to pull an overnighter studying for an exam. You are on an epinephrine high.
The trouble comes in when its long-term. Why do students get sick at the end of a semester. Because their immune system is waking up. But if it isn't awake for a long time, things worse than the flu can go wrong, as bad as cancer. With the blood shunted away from the intestines and stomach, stress can cause stomach ulcers, indigestion, irritable bowel syndrom. Elevated blood sugars can lead to insulin-resistence.
And these are only a few of the physical problems that can develop. The mental include panic attacks, anxiety disorders, depression, drug-dependency, broken relationships, anger issues, failing to cope with stressors you used to be able to handle but the energy bank is now broke and indebt for handling even the most insignificant of stressors showing up as irritability, arguing...
The affects of stress are astronomical and are seen everywhere, in the angry impatient driver who cut you off, or the mother yelling at her kids for a seemingly triffle thing.
Mary Ann
