{"id":75757,"date":"2023-05-12T07:37:04","date_gmt":"2023-05-12T12:37:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/?p=75757"},"modified":"2024-04-06T04:53:34","modified_gmt":"2024-04-06T04:53:34","slug":"your-bodys-intense-reaction-to-stress-explained","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/news\/your-bodys-intense-reaction-to-stress-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"Your body&#8217;s intense reaction to stress, explained"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-75758 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pexels-meo-724994-scaled-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1839\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pexels-meo-724994-scaled-1.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pexels-meo-724994-scaled-1-300x216.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pexels-meo-724994-scaled-1-1024x736.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pexels-meo-724994-scaled-1-768x552.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pexels-meo-724994-scaled-1-1536x1103.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pexels-meo-724994-scaled-1-2048x1471.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/www.stress.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pexels-meo-724994-scaled-1-600x431.jpg 600w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/>You\u2019re on a hike enjoying the fresh air and lush surroundings when you spot a snake in the middle of the trail.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Before your conscious mind can recognize the threat, your stomach sinks,\u00a0<a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/life\/health-wellness\/2021\/02\/01\/physical-symptoms-stress-warning-sign-mental-health-issues\/4307318001\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|${u}\">your heart begins to race<\/a>\u00a0and you start to sweat. These are all signs that your body is preparing to\u00a0<a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/life\/health-wellness\/2022\/06\/28\/fawning-trauma-response-known-people-pleasing\/7660811001\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|${u}\">\u201cfight or flight.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Seeing the snake, your eyes send that information to your brain \u2013 specifically, your hypothalamus, the part of your brain that secretes hormones that alert the rest of your body that it\u2019s time to \u201cfight or flight.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">This is what happens to your body\u00a0<a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/life\/health-wellness\/2023\/04\/13\/how-reduce-stress\/11634098002\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|${u}\">when you encounter stress<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\">What is the fight or flight reflex?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">A stressful event causes a cascade of hormonal events known as the HPA axis \u2013 or the stress response. The hormones (most importantly, the hormone cortisol) travel\u00a0throughout the body to prepare your body to take on that snake.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">The Cleveland Clinic explains, \u201cDuring the fight-or-flight response, your body is trying to prioritize, so anything it doesn\u2019t need for immediate survival is placed on the back burner. This means that digestion, reproductive and growth hormone production, and tissue repair are all temporarily halted. Instead, your body is using all of its energy on the most crucial priorities and functions.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\">What are five effects of stress on the body?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\"><a href=\"http:\/\/stress.org\"><strong>The American Institute of Stress<\/strong><\/a> describes<a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/life\/health-wellness\/2023\/04\/03\/can-stress-make-you-sick-symptoms-throwing-up-impacts-body\/11591550002\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|${u}\">\u00a0five key symptoms<\/a>\u00a0of fight-or-flight system activation:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul\">\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\">Rapid heartbeat<\/li>\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\">Rapid breathing (hyperventilation)<\/li>\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\">Pale or flushed skin<\/li>\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\">Dilated pupils<\/li>\n<li class=\"gnt_ar_b_ul_li\">Trembling<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\">What does chronic stress do to the body?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Our bodies and minds are well-equipped to handle the occasional acute stress situation. But imagine if that snake were following you around, startling you as you round every corner (shudder!). That would be\u00a0<a class=\"gnt_ar_b_a\" href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/life\/health-wellness\/2023\/03\/31\/what-chronic-stress-symptoms-definition-how-affects-body\/11555663002\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\" data-t-l=\":b|e|k|${u}\">chronic stress<\/a>\u00a0and it\u2019s not good for you.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cUnlike acute stress, which is a reaction to a specific event, chronic stress is a consistent feeling of being pressured or overwhelmed for a long period of time,&#8221; says\u00a0Dr. Jessi Gold, psychiatrist and assistant professor and Director of Wellness at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">While it\u2019s normal to have incident-specific activation of \u201cfight-or-flight\u201d response, chronic stress is not natural or healthy.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Gold says, \u201cOur body developed it to respond to a threat, and when faced with one, our body basically prepares to run away or fight (&#8220;fight or flight&#8221;). However, if the threat never leaves, we are basically always running or fighting, without a chance to relax. That can feel never ending and hopeless, and can have mental and physical health consequences. This makes sense as we can only run and fight for so long.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\">Chronic stress can lead to severe physical and emotional damage.<\/h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">\u201cChronic stress is something that definitely shows up both in the brain and the body, and illustrates the connection between the two. A person might experience muscle pain, headaches, GI distress, teeth grinding, insomnia, fatigue, forgetfulness\u00a0and\/or have trouble concentrating. Sometimes the person will be more irritable with, or avoidant of others, and that might make them stop responding to text messages or cancel plans, for example. They might also turn to alcohol or drug use to cope,\u201d Gold explains.<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"gnt_ar_b_h2\">How can I reduce chronic stress?<\/h2>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">If you suspect you\u2019re suffering from chronic stress it\u2019s important to proactively address what that stress is doing to your body.<\/p>\n<p class=\"gnt_ar_b_p\">Gold has a few recommendations for treating chronic stress, \u201cTreating chronic stress requires a holistic approach. As hard as it is to do, trying to find time, even 5 minutes for yourself\u00a0and doing something you like, can make a difference. What you do for that time is up to you, but some people find things like mindfulness, exercise\u00a0and journaling helpful for stress reduction. It is also important that things like routine, sleep\u00a0and eating are emphasized. This includes learning to have stricter boundaries between work and home and saying no, or setting limits,\u00a0more often. No doesn&#8217;t mean you are a mean person, it just means you are prioritizing yourself and your well-being.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pexels.com\/photo\/photo-of-head-bust-print-artwork-724994\/\">Photo by meo<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"gnt_ar_by\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usatoday.com\/story\/life\/health-wellness\/2023\/04\/23\/what-does-stress-do-body-understanding-effects-reactions\/11695396002\/\">Original post by Delaney Nothaft with Special to USA TODAY<\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>You\u2019re on a hike enjoying the fresh air and lush surroundings when you spot a snake in the middle of the trail. Before your conscious mind can recognize the threat, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":75759,"menu_order":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"pmpro_default_level":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false},"categories":[139,159],"tags":[136,137,138,141,143,145,155,120,175,165],"class_list":["post-75757","news","type-news","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-life-blog","category-stress-in-your-body","tag-ais","tag-american-institute-of-stress","tag-anxiety","tag-health","tag-mental-health","tag-relaxation","tag-research","tag-stress","tag-stress-reduction","tag-stress-relief","pmpro-has-access"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Your body&#039;s intense reaction to stress, explained - The American Institute of Stress<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stress.org\/news\/your-bodys-intense-reaction-to-stress-explained\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Your body&#039;s intense reaction to stress, explained - The American Institute of Stress\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"You\u2019re on a hike enjoying the fresh air and lush surroundings when you spot a snake in the middle of the trail. 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