#Positively Stressed - Week 2
As we take a moment after the holidays to rest and recharge, I’ll continue the introduction of this series into - What is #Stress?
Stress is a biomechanical response to internal or external stimuli causing the additional production of the hormone cortisol.
What does this mean? When your brain identifies a stressor stimulus, it sends hormone signals to your adrenal glands (on your kidneys) to produce and release cortisol. A great – if imperfect – analogy I was taught is your house thermostat (brain) sending signals to the furnace (adrenal glands) for more heat (cortisol).
Cortisol affects your body by increasing blood sugar, heart rate, and blood pressure (“fight, flight, or freeze” response) and suppresses non-essential functions like digestion and reproduction.
Short-term effects of increased cortisol can be highly beneficial in certain circumstances – like not falling asleep during a college exam, having to answer questions after a presentation, or having to outrun a bear in the woods (never tried it and I don't plan to).
Long-term effects of increased cortisol can have negative consequences including increased risk of heart disease, stroke, diabetes; weakened immune system (causing worse or longer illnesses); difficulty sleeping; weight gain; and difficulty having kids.
So how do we fix this? The obvious – if not easily achievable – answer is 1) to teach our brain what should be considered a “stressor stimulus” and what is not; 2) have 2 properly-functioning adrenal glands and a properly-functioning brain; and 3) be able to lower the cortisol levels quickly when they are not needed. But as we know, that's not always achievable - so we have to use stress-relieving techniques and strategies.
Comment below with topics you would like to see in the coming ~50 weeks.
By: Stephen Delcuze, Esq. - Found on LinkedIn here.
