Stress

What is stress ?

Stress is  the instantaneous , unthinking response of the body to any demand made on it . It is meditated by the autonomic nervous system and the stress hormone secreted by the endocrine glands, hypothalamus - pituitary-adrenal axis. Animals and human beings have to cope with innumerable demands in order to survive . For instance our ancestor , the cave man , had to hunt for his food and protect himself , day and night , against wild beasts . He however , lived peacefully in harmony with nature. Modern man subjugated and tamed the wild bears yet lives under stress almost everyday of his life. The new source of tension in modern  living is caused by the ever - accelerating technological monster created by man . We must get used to the accelerated pace of living without succumbing to its pressure. A few lucky ones have learn t this art but the rest suffer from stress disorders.
Stressors and stress

Dr. Hans selye , the father of the stress concept, termed the threatening agents as ' stressors ' and the changes in the body produced by them as stress. the common stressors are
1. infections
2. exposure to heat or cold
3. injuries or operations
4. physical threat to an animal or a man resulting in ' flight or flight' response
5. Emotions
6. Changes in the environment and the lack of adaptability

How does the body react to these diverse threats ? Is the response of the body different in the case of the policemen facing an unruly mob, or an individual suffering form thyroid ? The answer is ' no' the body responds in a stereotyped manner to any demand made on it, like a car which gathers speed as soon as it accelerator is pressed down . In other words , whether it is an infection , exposure to heat or cold , injury or emotions or environmental change , the physical, chemical and emotional changes produced in the body are same.

Can Stress be avoided  ?

There is still a lot of confusion abort the real nature of stress. Stress is not nervous tension . doctors have been constantly advising patients to avoid stress, not to work too hard and give up a few of their activities. Living makes constant demands on our body. Even while we sleep, our body is still under the same stress, as vital absence of stress functions like respiration , circulation and digestion continue. In fact ,a complete absence of stress would mean death.

Optimum Stress or Eustress

This is the amount of stress at which you can function efficiently without any physical or mental ill effects. With a reserve of nervous energy you can sail smoothly , if you are not unduly tense or tired . Stress can be compared to a carburettor of a car. If the right mixture ( air and petrol )  is supplied , the car runs , smoothly. Similarly , with optimum stress you can feel fit enough . But just as the carburettor gets flooded due to excess of petrol and the car stalls , excessive stress can damage or kill you if you cannot adapt your self to it. Too little stress is also harmful. The automobile comes to a grinding halt without petrol ans so do Homo sapiens. Distress, on other hand, is unpleasant stress. For Example: a mother losing her only son or daughter.


stress disorders and Diseases 

Mn also  respond to symbolic threats which can consciously  or subconsciously  thinks may harm him. The the  important stressors in our pressure-ridden society producing stress disorders are :  

1. Emotions : They are the most important stressors in civilized man with highly developed nervous system. Pleasant emotions produce optimum stress. Unpleasant emotions result in distress induced illness

2.  Fight or flight response : It is the body's involuntary reaction to the very demanding life. Some individuals choose for themselves.

3. Inability  of an individual to adapt to sudden changes in his environment : For example " changing  a job or moving to a new city or 'concording' at 1,328 miles per hour !