Basically, there are three main forms of response to stress. The first is the “flight or fight” response as a result of which is another form of response to stress as a result of chronic stress, and the third one has to do with our perception of imminent stress. This is also referred to as emotional response.

The first way we respond to stress is borne out of immediate shock and the feeling of been threatened. The entire body mechanism begins to work as hormones are released to keep us going in the ‘flight or fight’ response. When we feel threatened or face any conflict or combat, hormones are release to enable us face the situation. Your heart rate and blood pressure is lightened by the hormones and additional sugar and oxygen is channeled to your muscles and blood is withdrawn from your skin in order to curb excessive loss of blood if injury occurs. The brain works fast concentrating on the situation facing us and the muscle is coolled down by sweat which increase at this period. A sudden occurrence of such threat resulting in our heart pounding always draw this kind of response.

The second response to stress often move through stages from the reaction stage, to the resistance stage and finally to the resignation or exhaustion stage. After the reaction to event or threat stage, the next stage is for the body to put up a resistance for as long as possible. If the stress persist, the body eventually gives in and drifts into the exhaustion or resignation stage. This often result in chronic fatigue problems and inertia. The body learns to cope with stress in this way and if there is no eruption motivating factor along the way, we become completely fed up with our daily routine.

The third response to stress is the mind response to stress. This could be some stressors that push us to work harder and harder and possibly without the resources to meet up this demand. The end result is unhappiness and the likelihood of depression. Such stressors which could keep persisting could include pressure at work to meet one deadline or the other, conflict between supervisors and colleagues and unpleasant working conditions.

When we face stress, especially threats that are not really on our life’s but more of a challenge to our worth, threat to our social status or how the society sees us, we have two main feelings. First, the fear of not been able to face imminent threat and second the feeling of being seriously threatened. Which ever way, reducing response to stress and getting back to normal will require us to change our outlook on stressors and make it seem less of a threat. After all, it is not as if such stress is instantly choking life out of you.

Salihu Ibrahim
www.vitaminswell.com