The Stress Response
From our primitive ancestors we have inherited a remarkable capacity to arouse and energies the brain and the body in the service of superb performance. We can prime and focus our physical and mental resources to respond quickly to a challenge or threat.
The ‘fight and flight’ response produces a chemical cocktail to activate your system when you are under stress. The adrenal glands produce the hormone adrenalin to stimulate your system and pituitary, thyroid and pancreas glands also secrete their own hormones. The effects if these chemicals being released. These chemical reactions can be a source of great strength given the right situation- that is, short term defense- encouraging athletes to excel and ordinary people to preform amazing feats.
Yet if the stress is long term the body doesn’t get chance to detoxify from this chemical cocktail. At the end of a stressful situation your body, because of its homeostatic or rejuvenating nature, should return to its normal, relaxed state.
The physical characteristics of the ‘fight and flight’ response may not be appropriate in many modern-day situations, for example, in an argument with the boss or in middle of a traffic jam. The increase in adrenaline level, heart rate and blood pressure (all aimed to supply more energy) have nowhere to go, and we are left fuming. Over time, these reactions build up, and one day there may come the straw that breaks the camel’s back. With frequency excitation and awkward natural instinct, blood pressure and heart rate do not return to normal and one is left with hypertension or high blood pressure or some other disease. Indeed, medical experts estimate that 50-70 per cent of all diseases are at least partially caused by stress.
