What is stress?
How would you feel if some bees entered to you room?
What would you do?
How would a child feel if he was promised a reward for finishing his homework early?
What would he do?
Those feelings, sensations and reactions are what we call stress, also known as anxiety, tension, suspicion, nervousness, worry, etc.
Stress is a normal psychological and physical reaction of our body to the demands of life. It is a way of protecting our body by releasing hormones that make the brain more alert.
Pituitary: releases adrenaline and cortisol
Heart: Adrenaline makes the heart beat faster and increases blood flow.
Stomach: Cortisol slows digestion
Liver: Stops storing glycogen, and releases more glucose that is converted into energy.
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SOURCES:
- https://medlineplus.gov/spanish/ency/article/003211.htm
- https: //www.mayoclinic.org /.../ stress ... / art-20050987 ...
2 Types of Stress
It is very common that we have 2 types of stress:
- Acute stress or
- Chronic stress.
Thinking about the example when suddenly bees entered to your room, the scare passed when the bees left without hurting you.
Stress that lasts for a short time (acute stress) is normal when it helps us to carry out an activity, or to avoid a danger; for example, to protect us from the stings of the bees that entered our room.
Another example: my beans are burning!
Stress is good when it alerts us to danger and / or motivates us to seek solutions and / or do things in the best way.
What would happen if after the bees left we kept thinking about them, scared of their stings but ALL DAY?
Stress that lasts longer (chronic stress) can be bad because it can damage health, especially when it comes from situations or thoughts that cause feelings of frustration, anger, nervousness, etc.
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The good news is that Stress can be controlled we have many life style change program that can help you!
join one of our workshops!