Roz Burnham, C.N.

Metabolic Clinical Nutrition

Natural Wellness Counseling

972-939-8447

 Rozburnham@verizon.net

STRESS

Stress is defines as any non-specific response by the body to any demand made upon it. Stress is life and life is stress.

The events that are occurring are called the stressors. These events may be anticipated or unexpected, short term or long term, under our control or outside of our control, good for us or harmful to our wellbeing.

The perception of the events is the way we interpret the events. We may feel happy, sad, fearful, threatened, devastated, overwhelmed, challenged, uneasy, or a host of other thoughts and feelings all occurring at the same time.

The Alarm Stage of Stress

The brain perceives an emergency or threat and produces a cascade of chemical changes. Stress hormones, blood pressure, respiration and heart rate rise, muscles tense and tighten, and digestion and elimination slows down. This is the fight or flight reaction.

If the crisis is manageable and short term, the body can calm down and return to normal. When the events are unmanageable or last too long, this stage of stress can become chronic (trapped in panic mode).

The Resistance Stage of Stress

Ongoing stress blunts the acute responses of the alarm stage. The person’s body, mind and emotions are less able to cope. The nervous system, immune system and endocrine system become tired as you function less efficiently. Fatigue, lowered resistance, poor memory, and insomnia then compromise your feelings of wellbeing.

The Exhaustion Stage of Stress

In this stage of stress you feel completely exhausted physically, mentally and emotionally. You have depleted your emergency reserves of stress hormones and nutrients. You can’t take anymore stress or changes at this time. You just want to rest and recoup your energy and resources. This is the stage where you are most vulnerable to break down from a serious illness or accident if the repair process is not initiated.