hypothesis at the time and led to a lifetime of research for Selye, who continues to be credited with coining the term stress. When asked to provide a more succinct definition of stress, he would eventually submit, “Everyone knows what stress is, but nobody really knows.” Selye continued What happens in the body during stress? Whether we can clearly define stress or not, we all know it when we feel it, as Selye suggested. The symptoms of stress are recognizable and universal. Even though on a conscious level we perceive stress as some sort of psychological or emotional pressure from outside sources, a specific physical process takes place in the body that stems from what remains of our primitive survival skills after thousands of years of evolution as a species. When the nervous system senses stress, a part of the brain called the hypothalamus triggers the production and release of stress hormones, the most powerful of which are cortisol and adrenaline, to stimulate the fight-or-flight response in the body. This process was very useful when our caveman ancestors had to flee that saber-toothed tiger, but its application is far less practical today. Although our physical survival is rarely in question on a day-to-day basis in our modern lives, as it was for primitive humans, the biochemical process that takes place in the body remains largely the same. Adrenaline elevates the heart rate, and cortisol releases stored glucose into the bloodstream to give the body a boost of energy to provide the speed and strength to escape danger. This Acute versus chronic stress Acute stress can be described as the natural and immediate response to a perceived demand. It is typically an immediate and brief experience in reaction to a sudden, unexpected change to environment or circumstances. The short-term stressful experience of a traffic jam that makes you late for work or the crunch to meet an impending deadline is one that the body and brain can perceive intensely, but can quickly shake off when the situation is over. The process is normal and not necessarily a bad thing because it stimulates action to execute a plan or solve the problem. The stress response is not always in reaction to something negative either; it can also occur during an exciting and positive event like your wedding day or winning an athletic event. There are some specific applications for massage therapy in an acutely stressful situation, which will be discussed in greater detail in Section 3. For the purposes of this course, our focus will be more on the applications of massage therapy for chronic stress, as it is the more rampant and destructive force plaguing our society. Chronic stress can be described as a disease process unto itself, from both a psychological and physiological standpoint, and it is often a precursor or trigger in the disease process of serious medical conditions. Chronic stress builds over time, often from a continuous low-grade stress Long-term effects of chronic stress A loss or consistent lack of homeostasis in the body can manifest as many symptoms and conditions. Following is a list of common ailments observed with chronic stress. Effects of stress on the body: ● Insomnia or hypersomnia. ● Headaches/migraines. ● Chronic muscle tension, pain, or inflammation, primarily manifesting as back pain. ● Hypertension and heart disease. ● Digestive disorders. ● Weight gain or weight loss. ● Compromised immune health.
his study on the subject and struggled to find a satisfactory definition of stress until his death in 1982, which was, arguably, in many ways, a much less stressful era than today. What would Selye have thought of the way we live today?
is the process that is responsible when we hear stories of people suddenly developing superhuman strength in moments of crisis. As part of its self-regulatory functions, the body also has mechanisms that will return hormone levels back to normal once the dangerous situation has dissipated. This can happen relatively quickly after brief episodes of minor or acute stress. The problem, however, is that the body spends too much time in the stress-response chemical state and cannot sufficiently or efficiently regulate hormone levels and bring them back to normal, creating a state of chronic stress. When the hypothalamus is triggered intensely or consistently, the body does not have an opportunity to level out the hormones and reverse the fight-or-flight response. The human body is not designed to function in such a state, and stress will manifest as pain, inflammation, and disease. Chronic stress can wreak havoc on the body and mind, making it susceptible to physical disease and psychological issues. level that is barely perceptible in comparison to acute stress. It can be subtle but far more pervasive both psychologically and physiologically in the long run than acute stress. The American Psychological Association described chronic stress in an article on its website titled “Stress: The Different Kinds of Stress” from a psychological perspective, which can have dramatic effects on the physical body: Chronic stress comes when a person never sees a way out of a miserable situation. It’s the stress of unrelenting demands and pressures for seemingly interminable periods of time. With no hope, the individual gives up searching for solutions. … The worst aspect of chronic stress is that people get used to it. They forget it’s there. People are immediately aware of acute stress because it is new; they ignore chronic stress because it is old, familiar, and sometimes, almost comfortable. (American Psychological Association, 2018) Under such circumstances, the body is frequently or constantly functioning within a stress response and, over time, the process that is biologically designed to be a blaring alarm becomes an annoying and ever-present background noise. Homeostasis, which is defined as the body’s ability to maintain equilibrium and stability within the systems, cannot be achieved. The body gets little or no chance to return to normal, and its health begins to unravel. Effects of stress on the mind: ● Anxiety. ● Inability to focus or retain information. ● Irritability. ● Depression. ● Poor or unsafe choices, including drug or alcohol abuse. ● Addiction. Sleep is often the first function of the body to be affected by stress, as the hypothalamus that starts the fight-or-flight response is also responsible for regulating the circadian rhythm or sleep–wake cycle. The importance of the right amount of restorative sleep for physical and mental health cannot be overstated. Insomnia is the more common
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Book Code: MNJ0524
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