Phases
of the stress
There are three basic phases of the
stress. Understanding these phases can help to identify and cope with the
stress in life.
Phase
I
Stressors trigger your body's
response to stress. This physiological response is also known as the "fight
or flight" response in your nervous system. Symptoms include:
- Increase in heart rate and blood pressure
- Decreased blood flow to the extremities
- Slowed digestion
The stress response is meant
temporarily to improve chances of surviving a physical threat to safety (i.e.,
outrunning a predator), but becomes dangerous to health if activated for
prolonged periods of time.
Troublesome events that can activate
the stress experience include death, divorce, illness, conflict, job loss, and
retirement. Other negative stressors are worries, memories, or images that are
produced internally by our minds. Positive life events also trigger the stress
response in our bodies. These include marriage, birth of a child, purchase of a
new home, or starting a new job.
Phase
II
Interpretation of stressors affects
our ability to cope with stress. Our beliefs, attitudes, and values determine
how we interpret and react to potentially stressful situations. The resulting
feeling of helplessness sets up for a variety of unpleasant responses to
stress.
Phase
III
Reaction to stress might create or
worsen physical, emotional, or behavioral symptoms if the fight or flight
response is activated chronically over time.
- Physical — high blood pressure, heart disease, ulcers,
strokes, rashes, migraine, tension headaches, infertility, irritable bowel
- Emotional — anxiety, depression, anger, forgetfulness,
panic attacks
- Behavioral — overeating, poor appetite, drug abuse,
excessive smoking, irritability, social withdrawal, insomnia .
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