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 RISING WOMEN EXPERT
ADVICE...
What is stress and how to cope with it effectively?
(Part 2)
As I asserted in the previous column, stress is a natural
life-occurrence and necessary stimulus promoting healthy functioning.
However, chronic exposure to stress has deleterious effects on our physical
and emotional health. Therefore, excessive stress often significantly
suppresses the immune system causing complications that often include
anxiety, depression, impulse control problems, as well as high blood
pressure, heart problems, ulcers, GI diseases, cancer and premature aging.
The question remains however, is how did a natural response to stress become
the main cause for most ailments in our advanced society?
Let me clarify, without using medical jargon, how stress response would take
place on the anatomic level. When we feel threatened or stressed, our
“fight-flight” reaction activates the central nervous system to secrete
adrenaline, corticosteroids and various stress hormones. These processes,
among other things, increase our alertness, awareness, reduce pain and
hunger perception. The domino-effect of these components strives at
maintaining the internal homeostatic balance by increasing energy
production. Thus, we are prepared for a quick reaction by increase in heart
rate and blood pressure, redirection of blood flow to heart and muscles away
from the GI tract, and release of fuel reserves to help fight the danger or
flee to safety.
The corticosteroids released into the bloodstream affects the fuel supply
needed for quick responses to threat. Try to think of it as “flooring” the
gas pedal in your car for an immediate acceleration. However, if the levels
of stress chemicals stay increased for a long time, then muscle tissue
breakdown, an increased inflammatory response and suppression of the immune
system occur. No one in their right mind would keep an accelerator pedal
floored because this would result in a crash or a premature vehicle
breakdown.
In addition, stress responses globally influence every bodily system and
interact with all bodily functions. These substances intermingle with and
are heightened by chemicals most of us ingest daily: e.g. alcohol, caffeine,
nicotine, legal and street drugs.
Our understanding of these points can greatly normalize our struggles and
aid our coping with daily stressors. In other words: “I can only change what
I am aware of and understand”.
Tom Zaniecki MSc, RSW is a licensed Marriage & Family Therapist & a
Registered Social Worker in a private counseling practice. Please forward
any questions to 403.471.3955 or email
tomzaniecki@hotmail.com
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