YES... YOUR REACTION IS A STRESS RESPONSE!

Stress is the body’s response to any stimulation that will initiate a physical response by the nervous system. It can be both positive and negative, depending how it is perceived. The body will respond to a perceived (real or imagined) threat with a “fight or flight” response.

Your sympathetic nervous system secretes stress hormones, epinephrine and norepinephrine, to prepare you for battle or flight from the enemy. Your heart rate and blood pressure increase, breathing quickens, muscles tense, pupils dilate, mouth goes dry, and digestion stops as the blood diverts to your muscles.

As your body relaxes, your stress response shifts to a state of relaxation that is controlled by your parasympathetic nervous system. You maintain a steady heart rate and blood pressure, breathing slows, muscles relax, and your digestion resumes. The parasympathetic nervous system responds unconsciously, without your awareness. You aren’t aware of the rise and fall of your chest as you breathe, the beating of your heart, or the tensing and relaxing of your muscles.

YOUR BODY’S RESPONSE TO STRESS

These miraculous processes occur all through out the day, unconsciously, as you encounter stressful or peaceful moments. Positive stress, known as eustress, is productive and energizing, allowing clarity, concentration, and focus. Your body is designed to handle this for short periods of time.

However, in today’s hectic, fast–paced society, people tend to remain in a “fight or flight” response, which can be very wearing on their bodies and immune system. When stress becomes prolonged, it shifts to a negative impact, draining your energy, sapping your body’s defenses, and leaving you vulnerable to illness. If stress continues long-term, you may become prone to stress-related disorders…