Different Approaches to Taming Stress

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Taming Stress
What is stress?
You would normally define stress as: last minute papers, a pile of unpaid bills, bumper to bumper traffic and so forth. However, these are just scenario stressors- examples of stressful events and circumstances.
Stress is defined as an automatic physical response to any stimulus that requires you to adjust to change.¹
What Happens When We’re Stressed?
Our bodies are in homeostatic balance and the addition of stress causes an imbalance. Recall the issues that arise when our bodies deviate from homeostasis.
When stressed, we have and increase in heart rate, muscles tense, breathing quickens and you may start to sweat. ¹
You get these feelings because of the stress response which starts in the hypothalamus. A network of nerves in your brain that sends out signals throughout your body through the autonomic nervous system which regulates involuntary body functions. Signals from the hypothalamus are sent to either the sympathetic nervous system (revs the body in response to perceived dangers) or the parasympathetic nervous system (calms the body after danger has passed). ¹
GOOD STRESS/ BAD STRESS
There are two types of stress, Good stress and bad stress. Good stress enables you to accomplish tasks more efficiently, and motivate you to meet your goals. Bad stress however, can weaken your immune system and lead to issues like high blood pressure, fatigue, anxiety and depression.
Recent and Significant Discoveries
1950-60: John Mason, Seymour Levine and Hay Weiss at Water Reed Army Medical Center Stanford University and the Rockefeller University respectively found that when there is no outlet for stress, individuals have no sense of control, no support or they feel as if there is no better “ending” for the...

... middle of paper ...

...n break down glucocorticoid. Breaking down the glucocorticoid prevents damage to the hippocampus nerve cells which means no memory impairment.

Works Cited
1. Benson, Herbert. "Understanding the Stress Response." Health and Wellness Resource Center. Harvard Health Publications Group, May 2006. Web. 8 May 2014. .
2. Sapolsky, Robert. "An Emerging Understanding of the Brain’s Stress Pathways Points Towards Treatments for Anxiety and Depression Beyond Valium and Prozac." Scientific American. N.p., 2003. Web. 7 May 2014. .

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