The Short Story of Stress

© 2008 DW GROUP, LLC

You Think You’re Having a Bad Day?

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What is Stress?

Stress is our body’s response to anything that makes us feel pressured or threatened

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The High Cost of Stress

Stress contributes to 50% of all illnesses in the United States . . . maybe more!• 70-80% of all visits to the

doctor are for stress-related and stress-induced illnesses

• Source: Healthy People 2000, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

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Stress produces a physical reaction in our body

Sometimes that's Good . . .

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OUR ANCESTORS' STRESS was primarily PHYSICAL for SURVIVAL

Automatic / Reflex Powerful stress hormones prepared the body for “Fight

or Flight”− Adrenaline and Cortisol− Provided extra strength and energy

When danger passed, they relaxed− Hormone levels returned to normal

HISTORY OF STRESS

Without STRESS, man would have been Dinner!


Modern Stress: Mostly Mental or Emotional

We create Stress by how we interpret or think about what is happening to or around us

PERPECTIVE IS KEY

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Anatomy of Stress

Thoughts and emotions produce physical responses that prepare us for “Fight or Flight”

The body responds to MENTAL stress exactly like it responds to LIFE- THREATENING PHYSICAL danger or stress.

The body doesn't know the difference!

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STRESS HORMONES

Powerful Neurotransmitter Chemicals that carry signals between cells

ADRENALINE– prepares the body for action but designed for short bursts

CORTISOL – increases energy production in response to stress but can lead to weight gain

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Stress Hormones Affect All Major Body Systems

Respiratory

Digestive

Circulatory

Nervous

Muscular

Skeletal

Immune

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We Experience a Difficult

Event,

WE FEEL STRESSED

Boom!

ADRENALINE and CORTISOL Start Flowing

Our Head Hurts, Heart Pounds,

We Get Short of Breath

Our Shoulder & Neck Muscles

Tighten

Our Pain Makes Stress Worse,

the Cycle Continues

Stress Response Cycle

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EFFECTS OF STRESSShort-term Effects

of ADRENALINE:

• Muscles Tense• Breathing

Becomes Rapid• Heart Rate &

Blood Pressure Increase

• Digestion Stops • Mental Alertness

Increases

Long-term Effects of CORTISOL:

• Thins our Bones• Shrinks our Brains• Suppresses our

Immune System• Saps our Energy • Contributes to

Aging!• MAKES US FAT!

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Reduces Stress

Associated with Serenity & Optimism

Positively affects Sleep, Pain, Appetite, Blood Pressure

Improves Concentration

SEROTONIN – Key Neurotransmitter

The “Feel-good” Chemical

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Stress Response Cycle

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"Life is about 20% what happens to us and 80% the way we respond to the events."

- Ted Engstrom


Exercise-The Other Anti-Depressant

In his comprehensive book, "The Depression Cure," clinical psychologist Stephen Ilardi writes: "Exercise changes the brain. It increases the activity level of important brain chemicals such as dopamine and serotonin.... Exercise also increases the brain's production of a key growth hormone called BDNF. Because levels of this hormone plummet in depression, some parts of the brain start to shrink over time, and learning and memory are impaired. But exercise reverses this trend, protecting the brain in a way nothing else can. Aerobic exercise can be as effective at relieving mild and moderate depression as SSRIs (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like Prozac and Zoloft).”

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0738213136/beliefnet


Shoulder Rotations

Synovial Fluid

Warm up our joints as well as our muscles

Never stretch a cold muscle


Keep Breathing!

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The Short Story of Stress

Health & Medicine

Transcript of The Short Story of Stress