The Principles of Stress

1. Welcome
2. What is stress?
3. What are the symptoms of stress?
4. What causes stress?
5. Is stress a friend or foe?
6. The fascinating history of stress theory
7. Do you know your signs of stress?
8. Where does stress come from?
9. How we create stress for ourselves
10. Where stress really comes from
11. Factors influencing our stressful interpretations

Take me back to the Resource Centre index

"Stress is the non-specific response of the body to any demand made upon it."
DR. HANS SELYE - Father of stress theory.

What defines a demand?

The "demand" can be a threat, a challenge or any kind of change that requires the body to adapt.
The "threat" can be real or imagined.
The response is automatic, immediate and generalized.
It is usually perceived as feeling tense, nervous, upright or anxious.
The stress reaction is mediated by adrenaline, Cortisol and other stress hormones. It is also called "The Fight or Flight Response."

What happens during a stress reaction?

There is an increase in:

Heart rate
Blood pressure
Breathing rate
Muscle tension
Perspiration
Mental alertness and senses are heightened
Blood flow to the brain, heart and muscles
Blood sugar, Cholesterol, Platelets and clotting factors

There is a decrease in:

Blood flow to the skin
Blood flow to the digestive tract
Blood flow to the kidneys

Stress is necessary to life and survival. It can be positive and beneficial (eustress) or it can be negative and detrimental (distress).

All material copyrighted, David B. Posen M.D.