Stress, the feeling created when our body rises up to a particular challenge, is our body's preparation to focus and deal with a tough situation. Stressors are the events that invoke this feeling in our bodies. For different people, different events can invoke the feeling of stress in their bodies. Some people may become stressed with required 10 minute speech on their research paper; while for others, stress comes when they are in physical danger.
When our bodies respond to stressors, specific hormones are activated by the stressors, including the hormones adrenaline and cortisol. Then the hormones are released into the bloodstream, causing our metabolism, heart rate, and breathing rate to speed up, and our blood pressure to rise, also. The blood vessels widen to allow more blood to travel to large muscle groups. Our muscles are on alert, and our pupils dilate to improve our eyesight. Stored glucose is released by the liver to increase our body's energy. Sweat is excreted to cool down our body. Our stress response, all the reactions mentioned above, are intended to make us more efficiently under the pressure.
At times, feeling stress is actually beneficial. In dangerous situations, like preventing an accident while driving, stress makes sure the person stays alert. We become better prepared to meet the challenge. But on other occasions, long term stress can be induced in the body, like during a divorce or starting at college. Sooner or later, our bodies are depleted of energy and can no longer function efficiently. Therefore our immune systems are weakened and we can be left feeling overwhelmed. Stress overload could be in response to...
-being exposed to violence or bullying
-relationship stress, death of a loved one, or a broken heart
-ongoing school problems related to learning disabilities
-no time to rest and relax; constantly being on the go.
