"What creates stress" was the most searched health term on Google in 2022, 2023, and now 2024.
I'll give you a simple example of how or what creates stress.
Picture this: you're out hiking in the wilderness, enjoying the fresh air and scenic views when suddenly, you come face to face with a bear! 😱
At that moment, your heart pounds, your palms become moist, and your body springs into action, ready to face the threat. This is not just a reaction, it's a well-orchestrated survival performance by your body, backed by science.
Here's what's happening behind the scenes: as soon as your brain registers the danger, it sends out an urgent message to your adrenal glands, shouting, "Release the stress hormones—stat!" 🚨 That's when cortisol and adrenaline come rushing into action, like a superhero swooping in to save the day.
Cortisol, also known as the "stress hormone," kicks your body into high gear by boosting your blood sugar, revving up your metabolism, and hitting pause on non-essential functions like digestion. It's like giving your body a quick jolt of energy to deal with the imminent threat.
Meanwhile, adrenaline is busy sounding the alarm bells, triggering your heart to pound, your breath to quicken, and your muscles to tense up—all in preparation for a lightning-fast escape from the bear's path. It's your body's way of saying, "Run for your life—or stand your ground and fight if you have to!"
Once the coast is clear and the bear is out of sight, your stress hormones gradually start to calm down, and your body returns to its normal state. But while this stress response is crucial for surviving in the wild, dealing with it daily can take a toll on your health.
This is where the problem arises: we all have a feeling of encountering a bear or similar and relate it to our daily life encounters, which alarms cortisol and adrenaline (rise in sugar levels for survival mode), but in reality, nothing as such happens.
Remember, your brain cannot see things; it can feel how you feel for every activity.
Understanding how hormones like cortisol and adrenaline work can help us recognize the physiological basis of stress and implement effective strategies for managing it.
By learning to regulate our body's stress response through techniques like mindfulness, exercise, and relaxation, we can reduce the impact of stress on our physical and mental well-being and cultivate greater resilience in the face of adversity.
Mental health is the new chronic disease, it is expected to surpass cancer in the coming years. Let's all # be mindful of how precious and valuable it is to safeguard our mental well-being. (I'll add more posts about how we can overcome this in my next posts) I was once in this crisis; I Know how it is.
Be mind full