What is Stress? The Nature of Stress

Have you experienced being tired of your everyday routines? Well, that is just but normal because we're just humans and the nature of dissatisfaction have been always there. Do you believe there's even one time I told my husband that I am tired of living? I did not know where it came from but I really felt that way. It seems that I felt like wanting to just lay my self on the bed and do nothing. Well, I really did because that particular day, I did not bother to go to school and just lain myself to bed the whole day. It was as if, I got totally fed up and lost my interest on anything that involves my usual routines. I even planned to file a leave because I didn't even want to see books or notes that will just remind me of my responsibilities. Crazy, isn't it? Crazy, indeed; funny as it may seem, but it really happened to me.

The next day I rose from bed, I felt better and came to school and perform my tasks as a teacher. But I did not fail to call my doctor friend to confide about this experience. And according to her, this is just one of the signs of the six letter word - stress.

But what is stress really? According to some, stress is the emotion created when we react towards a particular thing or event in our lives. It's the way of our body in rising against any challenge that we face and prepare to meet tough situation that needs focus, stamina, vigor and alertness.

The events or factors causing stress are what we call stressors. They might be everything from outright physical danger to taking simple but pressure - causing problems. Our human body responds to the stressors by triggering specific hormones and activating the nervous system, on the process. The hypothalamus signals the adrenal glands to produce more of the hormones and release them into the bloodstreams.

These hormones are said to speed up the rate of the heart beat, breathing and even the rate of metabolism and blood pressure. Blood vessels then open wide and let more blood flow to large groups of muscles, making them attentive. Some changes will happen and these are physical changes that prepare the person to react quickly and become able to handle the pressure of the event or situation. Pupils will dilate and this improves vision. The liver releases stored glucose to increase the energy of the body. Also, sweat is produced and this cools the body.

All of these natural reactions are what we call stress responses. If everything works well, your body's stress responses will enhance your ability to perform under pressure. However, worse comes to worst and you become tired of getting over stress, there will be some problems that you might encounter like experiencing headache, feeling depress and some things like that. Learn more of how to get over stress to avoid hassles in performing your task.