Discover Self Help

The effects of stress begin with our perception. Our response to threats and danger is called stress. We are made with the ability to recognize and respond appropriately to changes in our environment. Not all stress comes to us from the outside. Our imaginations can create situations that our bodies perceive as real. We can stress ourselves just by imagining a stressful situation.

Since the effects of stress come whether or not there is a real threat, we need to learn how stress affects us and how to reduce or eliminate unnecessary stress. Short-term stress can actually be good for us. Responding to a real threat can save life and limb. Becoming more alert and responsive to a challenge or goal can help us achieve more in life. Relieving stress can make us better able to deal with the next stress we will have.

Stress causes the body to produce hormones and chemicals, which increase strength, speed up the heart and lungs, send blood to our limbs and stop digestion. Our body is quickly prepared for “fight or flight” – fight to defend ourselves or run away from danger. This response is intended to be used, not suppressed or ignored. The problems begin when this physical response is not appropriate to the threat. We may feel emotionally threatened, but fighting or running away may not be the right way to respond. Long term stress that is unrelieved may actually decrease our ability to fight or flee when a real threat occurs.