by Guilherme

Stress as a time of our lives  

By Guilherme L. Pereira

The stress response of the body is somewhat like an airplane getting ready for take-off. Virtually all systems (eg.: the heart and blood vessels, the immune system, the lungs, the digestive system, the sensory organs, and brain) are modified to meet the perceived danger. Under most circumstances, once the threat has passed, the response becomes inactivated and levels of stress hormones return to normal, a condition called the relaxation response. However, modern life poses stressful situations that are not short-lived and the urge to act must be contained. Stress, then, becomes chronic.

How does the brain react to stress?

In response to a problem, a part of the brain called the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system is activated.

The HPA systems trigger the production and release of steroid hormones (glucocorticoids), including the primary stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol is very important in marshaling systems throughout the body (including the heart, lungs, circulation, metabolism, immune systems, and skin) to deal quickly with the problem.

The HPA system also releases certain neurotransmitters (chemical messengers) called catecholamines, particularly those known as dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine (also called adrenaline).

  • Catecholamines activate an area inside the brain called the amygdala, which apparently triggers an emotional response to a stressful event.
  • Neurotransmitters then signal the hippocampus (a nearby area in the brain) to store the emotionally loaded experience in long-term memory.
  • During a stressful event, catecholamines also suppress activity in areas at the front of the brain concerned with short-term memory, concentration, inhibition, and rational thought. This sequence of mental events allows a person to react quickly to the fear, either to fight or to flee from it.

 If these feelings can be so uncomfortable, why do we have them?  The answer is simple: Protection.  Though stress is linked to anxiety, it is not so useful (when talking about health) to experience a long-term stress, although the body has developed anxiety, panic, and worry as a protective alarm system to aid in coping with potential threats and dangers.  This protective alarm system is even more amazing when you consider that the protective function really exists on two levels.  We are set up to respond to threats in two ways: a "preparation" mode and a "reaction" mode.

 

The preparation mode helps us to prepare for future danger or to help prepare us for threats which may be delayed.  The reaction mode is designed to help us cope with immediate threats and functions as an escape alarm.  It is more intense and shorter-acting than anxiety and is designed to help us deal with immediate danger.  While true panic only lasts a few seconds it prepares us to get out of the way of danger. 

 

 The moral of the story: Even though fear isn't a pleasant emotion, it is necessary to our survival.  Anxiety, worry and panic are designed to protect us, not to hurt us!

 

Still, when having an over rate of anxiety, be sure: it’s not normal. Trying to balance our lives (biologically and emotionally) is very important to our body and mind. Nowadays psychiatrics do agree that the brain problems are related to the bio-chemical neurotransmissor (as explained in the box “How does brain react to stress”). When something is wrong, these transmissors are with linking problems due to an unbalanced life stile and/or lack of nutrients.

 

The secret to have a good balanced live is to really be moderated on all things you do. Doing so will prevent you from many problems, including over-stress.

 

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