Stress ERLOAD: Its Adverse Effects To The Health Of A Chain Individuals

STRESS OVERLOAD: ITS ADVERSE EFFECTS TO THE HEALTH OF A CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL

BY

RONEL E. CACHERO

RAINNE ANGELICA L. CALIWAG

ALYSSA DAPHNE M. BUTAWAN

ENGL 1023 WRITING IN THE DISCIPLINE

PROFESSOR DANILO D. CAREL

DECEMBER 10, 2014

STRESS OVERLOAD: ITS ADVERSE EFFECTS TO THE HEALTH OF A CERTAIN INDIVIDUAL

Thesis Statement: Because of the heedless presumption of some people regarding the adverse effects of stress on their health, the excessive stress will probably have a major impact on the overall health of an Individual.

I. Introduction Historical context, definition of stress, and thesis statement

II. Stress Reaction
A. Individual’s Total Response
1. Foot on the Gas or Fight Response
2. Foot on the
Break or Flight Response
3. Foot on Both or Freeze Response
B. Body’s Response
1. Heart pounds faster
2. Muscles tighten
3. Blood pressure rises
4. Breath quickens
5. Senses become sharper.

III. Symptoms of Stress Overload
A. Physical Symptoms 1. Aches and pains 2. Nausea and dizziness
B. Behavioural Symptoms 1. Eating more or less 2. Sleeping too much or less 3. Isolating self from others
C. Cognitive Symptoms 1. Memory Problems 2. Inability to concentrate 3. Poor judgment
D. Emotional Symptoms 1. Moodiness 2. Irritability or short temper 3. Agitation, inability to relax

IV. Effects of Chronic Stress
A. Physical Health
1. Raise blood pressure
2. Suppress the immune system
3. Increase the risk of heart attack and stroke
4. Contribute to infertility
5.
Speed up the aging process
B. Mental Health
1. Vulnerable to anxiety
2. Prone to depression

V. Conclusion and Recommendation Dealing with stress and its symptoms
Stress Overload: Its Adverse Effects to the Health of a certain Individual

For most of the people, the term “stress” is now so integrated into our thoughts that it sometimes feels it has always been there. In fact stress, as we currently think of it, is a relatively new concept and is one that continues to evolve. Had we lived in the fourteenth century we would most certainly have used the term stress. But, with one or two notable exceptions, it would have had very little to do with our psychological state, except perhaps by implication. Stress had more to do with adversity, hardship or some form of affliction. It was not until the eighteenth and nineteenth century that a shift in meaning started to occur. Historically, the adoption of the term stress as a psychological concept is frequently, if wrongly, attributed to Hans Selye in 1936. By 1956, Selye had added to the developing ideas about stress by putting forward a three stage process known as the general adaptation syndrome (GAS)”. (Kenard, Jerry. “A Brief History of the term Stress”,
healthcentral.com)
But what is a stress anyhow “Stress is a normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened or upset your balance in some way. When you sense danger—whether it’s real or imagined—the body 's defenses kick into high gear in a rapid, automatic process known as the “fight-or-flight-or-freeze” reaction, or the stress response.” (Smith, Melinda M.A., Segal, Robert M.A., and Segal, Jeanne Ph.D., “Stress Symptoms, Signs, and Causes”, helpguide.org)
Modern life is full of pressures, frustrations, deadlines and hassles. Stress is as a very commonplace for most of the people in which it becomes a way of life. Some stress is good but there is a limit. Little amount of stress makes you feel active and determined to finish a certain task or activity. But when it is intense and prolonged, it will probably ruin your health.
The prolonged activation of the body 's stress response systems can be damaging, but some stress is a normal part of life. Learning how to cope with stress is an important part of development. We do not need to worry about positive stress, which is short-lived, or tolerable stress, which is more serious but is buffered by supportive relationships. However, the constant activation of the body’s stress response systems due to chronic or traumatic experiences in the absence of stable relationship, affection to others, and unresolved life problems can be toxic to the brain architecture and other organ systems. Because of the heedless presumption of some people regarding the adverse effects of stress on their health, the excessive stress will probably have a major impact on the overall health of an Individual.
It 's important to learn how to recognize when your stress levels are out of control. The most dangerous thing about stress is how easily it can creep up on you. You get used to it. It starts to feel familiar, even normal. The signs and symptoms of stress overload can be almost anything. Stress affects the mind, body, and behavior in many ways, and everyone experiences stress differently. Not only can overwhelming stress lead to serious mental and physical health problems, it can also take a toll on your relationships at home, work, and school. (Smith, Melinda M.A., Segal, Robert M.A., and Segal, Jeanne Ph.D., “Stress Symptoms, Signs, and Causes”, helpguide.org)

According to Psychologist Connie Lillas, there are driving analogy to describe the three most common ways people respond when they’re overwhelmed by stress. These are Foot on the gas, Foot on the brake and Foot on both. Foot on the gas is an angry, agitated, or “fight” stress response. You’re heated, keyed up, overly emotional, and unable to sit still.
Foot on the brake, it is a withdrawn, depressed, or “flight” stress response. You shut down, pull away, space out, and show very little energy or emotion. Foot on both, it is a tense or “freeze” stress response. You become frozen under pressure and can’t do anything. You look paralyzed, but under the surface you’re extremely agitated. (Smith, Melinda M.A., Segal, Robert M.A., and Segal, Jeanne Ph.D., “Stress Symptoms, Signs, and Causes”, helpguide.org)

Reaction to stress might create or worsen physical, emotional, or behavioral symptoms if the fight or flight response is activated chronically over time. Physical symptoms involve high blood pressure, heart disease, ulcers, strokes, rashes, migraine, tension headaches, infertility, irritable bowel movement. Emotional symptoms involve anxiety, depression, anger, forgetfulness, panic attacks while behavioural symptoms involve overeating, poor appetite, drug abuse, excessive smoking, irritability, social withdrawal, insomnia (The Cleveland Clinic, “The Phase of Stress”, clevelandclinic.org)

Excessive stress can lead to anxiety. According to FamilyDoctor.org, anxiety refers to a mental condition in which you are fearful and worried about a certain situation. Physical symptoms of anxiety include shortness of breath, muscle tension, a fast heartbeat and dizziness. Anxiety manifestations also include nausea, irritability, trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, trouble breathing and trembling. Anxiety occurs when the chemicals located in your brain (neurotransmitters) are decreased. You can take antidepressant medications such as fluoxetine to fill that brain chemical deficit. You can also learn to control your worry or fear and relax via exercise. (Divita, Lisabetta. “5 Symptoms of Stress Overload”, livestrong.com)

The Mayo Clinic says that panic attacks refer to an intense fear that manifests as physical symptoms. Symptoms of a panic attack include sweating, a fast heartbeat, chest pain, headache, dizziness, trouble swallowing and hyperventilation. You may also experience hot flashes, shortness of breath, chills and develop a feeling that you are going to die. Panic attacks develop suddenly and can be commonly mistaken as a heart attack. The Mayo Clinic says that panic attacks can last for 30 minutes or, in some cases, may last for hours or even an entire day. Treatment for a panic attack includes taking such medications as citalopram, duloxetine, nortriptyline or clonazepam. You can also see a psychiatrist or psychologist to participate in talk therapy. (Divita, Lisabetta. “5 Symptoms of Stress Overload”, livestrong.com)

Constant stress can also provoke depression. The Mayo Clinic says that depressive manifestations include crying spells, sadness, restlessness, irritability, unintentional weight gain or weight loss, fatigue, weakness, decreased sex drive (libido) and suicidal thoughts or behaviors. Antidepressant medications, talk therapy and shock therapy (electroconvulsive therapy) are just some of the treatments available to manage depression. Also too much stress can also lead to alcohol abuse. MedlinePlus indicates that symptoms of alcoholism include the need to drink to repress a certain stress, anxiety or fear. You may drink more alcohol than necessary and purposely get drunk to be happy. Physical symptoms of alcoholism include stomach pain, confusion, drinking alone, nausea, vomiting and hostility when you are criticized about your drinking. You can enter a detoxification and rehabilitation center to treat alcoholism. Medications such as disulfiram, naltrexone and acamprosate can all help to manage the symptoms of alcoholism. (Divita, Lisabetta. “5 Symptoms of Stress Overload”, livestrong.com)

The body 's stress-response system is usually self-limiting. Once a perceived threat has passed, hormone levels return to normal. As adrenaline and cortisol levels drop, your heart rate and blood pressure return to baseline levels, and other systems resume their regular activities. But when stressors are always present and you constantly feel under attack, that fight-or-flight reaction stays turned on. The long-term activation of the stress-response system — and the subsequent overexposure to cortisol and other stress hormones — can disrupt almost all your body 's processes. (Mayo Clinic Staff, “Chronic Stress puts your health at risk”, mayoclinic.org).
There several ways of stress management techniques, which an individual may do to reduce stress, first is to avoid caffeine, alcohol, and nicotine. Avoid, or at least reduce your consumption of, nicotine and all drinks containing caffeine and alcohol. Caffeine, alcohol and nicotine are stimulants and so will increase your level of stress rather than reduce it.
Second is to indulge in Physical Activity.
Stressful situations increase the level of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol in your body. Thirdly is to get more sleep. A lack of sleep is a significant cause of stress. Unfortunately though, stress also interrupts our sleep as thoughts keep whirling through our heads, stopping us from relaxing enough to fall asleep. Fourth is to try relaxation techniques. Fifth is to talk to someone. Just talking to someone about how you feel can be helpful. Talking can work by either distracting you from your stressful thoughts or releasing some of the built-up tension by discussing it. Sixth, keep a Stress Diary. Keeping a stress diary for a few weeks is an effective stress management tool as it will help you become more aware of the situations which cause you to become stressed. Seventh is to take control stress can be triggered by a problem that may on the surface seem impossible to solve. Learning how to find solutions to your problems will help you feel more in control thereby lowering your level of stress. Eight is to manage your time. At times, we all feel overburdened by our 'To Do ' list and this is a common cause of stress. Accept that you cannot do everything at once and start to prioritise and diarise your tasks. And last, is to learn to Say ‘No’. A common cause of stress is having too much to do and too little time in which to do it. And yet in this situation, many people will still agree to take on additional
responsibility. Learning to say “No” to additional or unimportant requests will help to reduce your level of stress, and may also help you develop more self-confidence. (SkillsYouNeed Management, “Dealing with Stress | Ten Tips”, skillsyouneed.com)

Works Cited
INTERNET

1. Kenard, Jerry. Health Pro “A Brief History of the term Stress”, 05 December 2014 http://www.healthcentral.com/anxiety/c/1950/30437/history-term-stress/

2. Smith, Melinda M.A., Segal, Robert M.A., and Segal, Jeanne Ph.D., “Stress Symptoms, Signs, and Causes”, 05, December 2014 http://www.helpguide.org/articles/stress/stress-symptoms-causes-and-effects.htm#dealing

3. The Cleveland Clinic, “The Phase of Stress”, 05 December 2014, http://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/healthy_living/hic_Stress_Management_and_Emotional_Health/hic_The_Phases_of_Stress

4. Divita, Lisabetta. “5 Symptoms of Stress Overload”, 05 December 2014 http://www.livestrong.com/article/74318-symptoms-stress-overload/

5. Mayo Clinic Staff, “Chronic Stress puts your health at risk”, 05 December 2014, http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-living/stress-management/in-depth/stress/art-20046037

6. SkillsYouNeed Management, “Dealing with Stress | Ten Tips”, 05 December 2014, http://www.skillsyouneed.com/ps/stress-tips.html