3 Stages of Stress
When you are under stress, you can experience and pass through three specific stages.
FIRST STAGE : ALARM
When you face any danger, your nervous system immediately sends an emergency signal to your brain. All the different body parts and their functions coordinate to either fight or flee away from the danger. You get more energy and your limbs work faster. This stage of stress can be due to an actual event such as an accident or being attacked. A person could also feel stress like when you are taking an important examination or if a person just perceives something is harmful.
SECOND STAGE : RESISTANCE
This phase is our response to continued stress. Now, our adrenal glands start to secrete cortisol to combat the stress. Cortisol is a good hormone to have as a short term solution but long term secretion can cause the adrenal glands to become fatigued. When this happens, the body uses other organs as a resource ultimately leading to a total depletion of the body. Other symptoms at this phase include increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, retention of water and huge carbohydrate cravings for an energy source.
THIRD STAGE : EXHAUSTION
As adrenal function is weakened further, the body's need for adrenal hormones remains unabated if stress is not reduced. The adrenals are no longer able to keep up with the ever-increasing demand for cortisol production needed to overcome the stress and they become exhausted. Cortisol output starts to decline and this usually happens gradually. If the stressors are severe, an adrenal crash may occur, to be followed by a longer than usual recovery. The body enters into the stage where the primary goal is conservation of energy to ensure survival. The body then goes into a slow-down mode and starts to break down muscle tissue to produce energy. Chronic fatigue is common and exercise tolerance is reduced. Chronic fibromyalgia can appear. Toxic metabolites begin to accumulate throughout the body, leading to brain fog and insomnia. Depression becomes severe and constant. The immune system is severely compromised and the body is more susceptible to disease such as cancer, heart attack, stroke, etc.
FIRST STAGE : ALARM
When you face any danger, your nervous system immediately sends an emergency signal to your brain. All the different body parts and their functions coordinate to either fight or flee away from the danger. You get more energy and your limbs work faster. This stage of stress can be due to an actual event such as an accident or being attacked. A person could also feel stress like when you are taking an important examination or if a person just perceives something is harmful.
SECOND STAGE : RESISTANCE
This phase is our response to continued stress. Now, our adrenal glands start to secrete cortisol to combat the stress. Cortisol is a good hormone to have as a short term solution but long term secretion can cause the adrenal glands to become fatigued. When this happens, the body uses other organs as a resource ultimately leading to a total depletion of the body. Other symptoms at this phase include increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, retention of water and huge carbohydrate cravings for an energy source.
THIRD STAGE : EXHAUSTION
As adrenal function is weakened further, the body's need for adrenal hormones remains unabated if stress is not reduced. The adrenals are no longer able to keep up with the ever-increasing demand for cortisol production needed to overcome the stress and they become exhausted. Cortisol output starts to decline and this usually happens gradually. If the stressors are severe, an adrenal crash may occur, to be followed by a longer than usual recovery. The body enters into the stage where the primary goal is conservation of energy to ensure survival. The body then goes into a slow-down mode and starts to break down muscle tissue to produce energy. Chronic fatigue is common and exercise tolerance is reduced. Chronic fibromyalgia can appear. Toxic metabolites begin to accumulate throughout the body, leading to brain fog and insomnia. Depression becomes severe and constant. The immune system is severely compromised and the body is more susceptible to disease such as cancer, heart attack, stroke, etc.
Be careful not to deal with stress in unhealthy ways (which will end up causing more stress in the long run.) Example: Smoking, drinking, bingeing on junk or comfort food, zoning out in front of the computer or TV, using pills or drugs to relax, procrastinating, sleeping too much, filling up every minute to avoid facing problems, taking out your stress on others, etc.
Stress Relief Coaching is a much better solution to the above.