What is stress? How can it affect us?

What is stress? How can it affect us and how can we lead a less stressful life?

Somebody every second in some part of the world uses the phrase “I’m so stressed” but what does that really mean? We start to wonder if this is a healthy type of stress or should we start to get worried about not being able to cope with everyday tasks because of this sensation of feeling stressed all the time.

So let me explain. When you perceive a threat, your nervous system responds by releasing a flood of stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones rouse the body for emergency action. Your heart pounds faster and all of a sudden muscles tighten, blood pressure rises, breath quickens, and your senses become sharper. These physical changes increase your strength and stamina, speed your reaction time, and enhance your focus, preparing you to either fight or flee from the danger at hand. But take a moment to ask yourself, is being stuck in traffic or being 5 minutes late for work that life threatening that this kind of process needs to be activated? The answer you’re looking for is probably NO. Stress has become a modern age problem and it has become so frequent in our everyday life that we see it as almost normal. Let me even dare to say that we may think that those people who appear not to be stressed are very strange, oh! What an easy life they must have. Stressors (situations or things that can stress you out) can be anything, a negative or even a positive event can be stressful, but really it all depends on the perception you have of that situation.

The body doesn’t distinguish between physical and psychological threats. When you’re stressed over a busy schedule, an argument with a friend, a traffic jam, or a mountain of bills, your body reacts just as strongly as if you were facing a life-or-death situation. If you have a lot of responsibilities and worries, your emergency stress response may be “on” most of the time. The more your body’s stress system is activated, the harder it is to shut off.

Long-term exposure to stress can lead to serious health problems. Chronic stress disrupts nearly every system in your body. It can raise blood pressure, suppress the immune system, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, contribute to infertility, and speed up the aging process. Long-term stress can even rewire the brain, leaving you more vulnerable to anxiety and depression.

Scientists think that physical activity helps maintain and improve wellbeing in a number of ways.

Evidence shows that it can help protect people against depression and anxiety. It is thought to cause chemical changes in the brain, which can help to positively change our mood. Some scientists think that being active can help improve wellbeing because it brings about a sense of greater self-esteem, self-control and the ability to rise to a challenge.

So how can we fight back against stress? Simple. The first thing we need to do is analyse the stressors and ask ourselves if our reaction to these situations is going to change anything or make it better. Take time out for yourself, forget about everyone else and do some exercise. So you’re probably wondering, what benefits does exercise have over stress?

The range of benefits of exercise are endless. According to recent studies, exercise habits are linked to protection from harmful effects of stress on physical and mental health. Exercise increases your overall health and your sense of well-being, which puts more pep in your step every day. But exercise also has some direct stress-busting benefits.

* It pumps up your endorphins. Physical activity helps to bump up the production of your brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters, called endorphins. Although this function is often referred to as a runner’s high, a jog around the block or a swim at the local pool also can contribute to this same feeling.

* It’s meditation in motion. After a demanding Better Body Group session or 8 lengths of the track on our beloved prowler, you’ll often find that you’ve forgotten the day’s irritations and concentrated only on your body’s movements. As you begin to regularly shed your daily tensions through movement and physical activity, you may find that this focus on a single task, and the resulting energy and optimism, can help you remain calm and clear in everything that you do.

* It improves your mood. Regular exercise can increase self-confidence and lower the symptoms associated with mild depression and anxiety. Exercise also can improve your sleep, which is often disrupted by stress, depression and anxiety. All this can ease your stress levels and give you a sense of command over your body and your life.

So, take a moment today to ask yourself how stress affects you and take an hour or so to do some exercise, anything from walking, swimming, running or coming down to see us at the Better Body Group, pencil it in your diary, make a day of it, get a friend involved, set yourself goals, smile, be happy, but most importantly be stress-less or even better, be stress-free.