MANAGING STRESS

MANAGING STRESS

Mental stress is usually experienced by persons with poor mental health. Mental disorders are caused by prolonged mental stress. People who have mental disorders become dysfunctional in society - they are no longer comfortable with themselves, are unable to express their emotions, are not capable of having satisfactory relationships with others and display harmful behaviors.

STRESS is defined as the person's reactions to stressors or the body's internal response to a stressful situation. Stressor refers to the things that causes stress. Traffic jams, seperation of parents, death in the family or relatives, poor grades, and other stressful events are stressors.

Stressors always come before stress.



Stress mechanism

when the brain perceives a stressor, the body is activated. The hypothalamus, an organ found in the brain, is the control center, activating two systems when the stressor is present. These two systems are the Autonomic nervous system and Endocrine system.

Adrenaline is released into the bloodstream by the Autonomic nervous system. Hormones that travel through the bloodstream to the adrenal, thyroid, and other glands are released by the endocrine system. When these two system are activated, the heart rate increases and blood pressure rises. The blood leaves the stomach and goes to the arms, legs, and brain. 

This action is termed y scientist as arousal of the body or the body's flight or fight response of the body. 

This initial response to stress is called the Alarm stage. 

The body tries to resist the stressor in the second stage called Resistance stage The nature of the stressor and its intensity and on the body's ability to adapt to it determines the length of time spent in this stage. People who get used to the stressor do not experience much emotional stress. 

But if a severe stressor continues to long, the third stage is called, the Exhaustion stage occurs when the ability to resist is consumed. Death may result in extreme and severe cases.