Stress

 

Stress is:

·         a natural, physiological reaction to what is: new, unusual and threatening.

·         state of mobilisation of an organism “fight or run away”

·         imbalance of an organism

Stress is not an illness or weakness.

Organism response to any demands made on it is:

GAS – General Adaptation Syndrome 

 

Alarm phase – the body mobilizes at the signal of a harmful factor. The body's immunity initially declines, but quickly remains compensated.

 

Resistance phase - resistance of organism is increasing beyond steady level and the muscular activity increases. The “fight or run away” response. Activated adaptive mechanisms allow to counteract stress. The body's resistance to harmful factors rises above a normal steady level and persists for a period of time to combat the threat.

 

Exhaustion phase - a gradual loss of immunity, the body's adaptive resources are depleted, if the harmful risk acts for too long, the body depletes resources and loses immunity.  A person is then susceptible to many somatic and mental illnesses.  The body thus signals that it needs rest and recuperation.

 Stress can be experienced in two ways: positive and negative.

STRESS
EUSTRESS	DISTRESS
stress with slight intensity	stress  too strong and prolonged
positive,	negative,
stimulating	paralyzing, causing anxiety
mobilizing,	depletes resources and tires
growth-promoting	pathogen