Physiological

Effects of
Stress

Prepared By:
Bhoomika Trehan
Assistant Professor

What happens in the mind of

an individual is always reflected
in the
disease of his body

Life offers a buffer of choices and an

individual opts the one which he /
she perceives as the best.

Model of Stress

Selyes General Adaptation

Syndrome is a comprehensive model
to explain the stress phenomenon

Model shows the physiological

response occurs in three stages

Stages of Stress
Alarm Reaction
An Initial Shock Phase
Autonomous excitability
Release of Adrenalin
Discharge
Increased Heart Beat, Muscle tone,
Blood Content

Fight or flight response

Built in stress response

Perceived threat and danger.
Certain hormones like adrenalin or
cortisol is released
They increase : speeding heart beat,
slowing digestion, shunting blood
flow to major muscle groups

Originally named for its ability to

enable us to physically fight or run
away when faced with danger, its
now activated in situations where
neither response is appropriate, like
in traffic or during a stressful day at
work.

Stage of Resistance
Maximum adaptation occurs during this stage
Prepares to repair damage caused by it
Creating a new level of homeostasis (or functioning)
Considerable amount of energy used
If a stressor continues for long periods or if several stressors
occur in succession without breaks
Emotional and physiological exhaustion will result

Stage of Exhaustation

Adaptation energy is
exhausted
Signs of Alarm reaction
reappear
Resistance level begins
to decline
Shrinkage of parts of
immune system
Stress-related diseases
become more likely
Organism collapses

General Adaptation
Syndrome

 What

Happens when Stressed?

Psychology of Stress:
Emotional impact
Anxiety
Fear
Depression
Anger
Sadness

When you are in a stressful or dangerous situation

and experience fear and anxiety, your body goes
through a number of changes:

Your heart rate may increase.

Your vision may narrow (sometimes called tunnel

vision).

You may notice that your muscles become tense.

You may begin to sweat.

Your hearing may become more sensitive.

Physiology of Stress
Acidity
Ulcers
Heart ailments
Blood Pressure
Kidney problems
Diabetes

Stress Response

When we are first stressed, the brain signals the release

of adrenalin and cortisol. These are hormones that
boost our blood sugar and oxygen levels, push more
blood to the brain, the result is increased alertness. The
average "adrenalin rush" experienced while in traffic
supplies enough glucose to keep you running for a mile.

In the short term stress suppresses the immune

system, increasing the risk of infections; slows down the
body's rate of repair; slows down the metabolism; robs
the body of vital nutrients.

And the symptoms can be: recurrent headaches; vague

aches and pains; dizziness; heartburn; muscle tension;
dry mouth; excessive perspiration; pounding heart;
insomnia; fatigue.
Medium term, as we become more and more stressed
out, so our body begins to adapt to the high level of
stress hormones. As a result we feel increasingly
anxious, fatigued and prone to mood swings.
Long-term stress: promotes rapid ageing; leads to
weight gain; increases the risk of developing
osteoporosis, high blood pressure, heart disease, cancer
and digestive problems.
When we find your ourselves stuck in the stress response
and it is chronic, we become exhaust

The signs of stress and what to do....

Headaches
Many headaches are caused by stress. Tension
headaches feel like a band tightening around the head.
Relaxation, just like tension is a learned response. With
regular floating, you can teach your body to relax, and
learn what it feels like to be relaxed even outside of the
tank. The weightless environment of the floatation tank
means that you do not have to support your body against
gravity. Deep physical and mental relaxation follows.

Back and neck pain

In mind body medicine, there is a clear relationship
between lower-back pain and stress
Again, relaxation techniques are the answer. In the
floatation tank, you are able to take quality time out, and
reach deep relaxation very quickly and without years of
training or practice. With regular massage, both the mind
body relax

Heart disease
The bodys release of adrenaline during stressful
events raises the heart rate and blood pressure.
Adrenaline also stimulates a release of fat from the fat
cells into the blood stream to supply energy for the fight
or flight response. If unused, this fat is deposited on the
arteries. The New England journal of Medicine (Jan
98) published a study that indicates that surges of blood
pressure can trigger heart attacks in susceptible people.
Repeated elevations of blood pressure over periods of
weeks and months accelerate atherosclerosis
(thickening of the arteries) thereby increasing the risk of
heart attacks.

Arthritis
Arthritis is often aggravated by stress. Learning to
manage that stress can help to relieve some pain.
Floatation not only reduces stress, in addition, the brain
releases endorphins while floating. Endorphins are the
bodies natural pain killer. Massage helps to release the
muscles that are tightening up around the body in
response to pain, and encourage us to feel good about
our bodies again.

Brain

The ANS regulates visceral activities

and vital organs, including:

circulation
digestion
respiration
temperature regulation

The immune system

The functioning of the immune system is depressed,

and healing and repair of tissues slows, while activation
of the sympathetic nervous system increases
the stress the body feels. Emotional issues may develop,
including anxiety and depression. Digestive functioning is
impaired and stress-related diseases might emerge,
such as chronic indigestion or irritable bowel syndrome.
Medical professionals advise that people learn how to
manage stress to help control potential problems with
chronic stress and the nervous system's response.

The digestive system

The hormones trigger reactions like an accelerated pulse.

They also cause changes in the digestive system, like sudden
lack of appetite, heartburn, nausea and stomach pains.
Stress also causes inflammation throughout the digestive
system, which leads to aggravation of the digestive tract and
affects the assimilation of nutrients. Over the long term, stress
can actually cause chronic digestive problems like irritable
bowel syndrome (IBS) and stomach ulcers.

Ask questions ?

Is your energy less now then it used to be?

Do you feel guilty when relaxing?

Do you have a persistent need for achievement?

Are you unclear about your goals in life?

Are you especially competitive or aggressive?

Do you work harder then most people?

Do you easily become angry or irritable?

Do you often do 2 or 3 task simultaneously?

Do you get impatient if people or things hold you up?

Do you have difficulty delegating?

Do you eat quickly?

Do you smoke or drink excessively (especially by others'

standards)?

Do you have difficulty getting to sleep?

Do you have aching limbs or recurring headaches?

Do you have a dry mouth or sweaty palms?

Are your muscles tense?

If you answered yes to 8 or more of these questions you

are in the HIGH stress category.

7 habits

Independence or Self-Mastery

The First Three Habits surround moving from

dependence to independence (i.e., self-mastery):

Habit 1: Be Proactive

Take initiative in life by realizing that your decisions (and

how they align with life's principles) are the primary
determining factor for effectiveness in your life. Take
responsibility for your choices and the consequences
that follow.

Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind

Self-discover and clarify your deeply important character

values and life goals. Envision the ideal characteristics
for each of your various roles and relationships in life.
Create a mission statement.

Habit 3: Put First Things First

Prioritize, plan, and execute your week's tasks based on

importance rather than urgency. Evaluate whether your
efforts exemplify your desired character values, propel
you toward goals, and enrich the roles and relationships
that were elaborated in Habit 2.

Interdependence

The next three have to do with Interdependence (i.e., working

with others):

Habit 4: Think Win-Win

Genuinely strive for mutually beneficial solutions or

agreements in your relationships. Value and respect people
by understanding a "win" for all is ultimately a better long-term
resolution than if only one person in the situation had gotten
his way.
Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to be Understood

Use empathic listening to be genuinely influenced by a

person, which compels them to reciprocate the listening and
take an open mind to being influenced by you. This creates
an atmosphere of caring, and positive problem solving.

Habit 6: Synergize

Combine the strengths of people through positive

teamwork, so as to achieve goals no one person could
have done alone.

Self Renewal

The Last habit relates to self-rejuvenation:

Habit 7: Sharpen the Saw

Balance and renew your resources, energy, and health

to create a sustainable, long-term, effective lifestyle. It
primarily emphasizes exercise for physical renewal,
prayer (meditation, yoga, etc.) and good reading for
mental renewal. It also mentions service to society for
spiritual renewal.