Modern Stress Explained

In these modern times, we live busy lives always on the go which causes us to feel stressed. Our bodies are spending too much time in fight or flight mode carried out by the sympathetic nervous system and very little time in rest and digest mode facilitated by the parasympathetic nervous system. 

Stress is one of the biggest psychological triggers of physiological changes in the body. There is evidence that even suggests that stress contributes to most of our modern day chronic diseases. 

In psychological terms, stress is the reaction to something that threatens our physical or mental equilibrium. Back in the ‘Caveman days’, the stress response, also known as the fight or flight response would be activated through the release of hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline, when they were in danger such as encountering a bear or tiger, prompting them to “stay and fight or run away and flee”. During this period, the body systems are working to keep us alive in this ‘dangerous’ situation. 

During the stress response:

• Heart rate increases and redirects blood flow and energy to the limbs from the digestive and immune systems (giving you more energy to run!)

• Blood pressure increases

• Blood flow increases to muscles, lungs and other areas essential for moving away from perceived danger

• Blood flow decreases to the digestive and reproductive systems 

• Stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline are released

• Glucose is rapidly released to be burned for quick energy

Through evolution, the stress response has been passed on and we now use it to battle modern day stressors. However, modern day stressors such as work, bullying, a mortgage, uni work or exams aren’t solved in a single afternoon unlike being able to run from a tiger. Whereas, these modern stressors are long term problems which affect us week after week. 

With the prolonged release of stress hormones, there is a rise in blood pressure, the cardiovascular system is taxed upon, the immune system is weakened, digestion is hindered, headaches occur and winding down and relaxing becomes harder.

So our stress response is doing pretty much the same things as it was doing for our ancestors but for longer periods of time. A short burst of adrenaline gives us motivation and energy for the challenges in life, but a steady stream of it just makes us run down. This takes a toll on the body and is also known as allostatic load. Chronic stress plays a sizeable role in mental illness and pathological physical states such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, obesity and immunosuppression. This is at least in part due to systemic inflammation that occurs when cortisol is in oversupply.

FIVE simple TIPS to DECREASE your STRESS levels:

1. Exercise regularly. The release of endorphins from exercise will instantly uplift your mood. 

2. Nourish your body with wholesome and nutritious foods everyday, drink lots of water to stay hydrated and limit coffee intake to maximum 1 per day.

3. Get enough sleep! At least 7-8 hours of sleep per night is recommended.

4. Get outside in nature. Go for a walk in the fresh air or an ocean swim. 

5. Breath work, meditation, journaling, being in the ‘present’ moment. These practices will help to instantly relieve anxiety and stress.