Introduction

Stress is one of the most common ailments in our lives today. Have you ever felt as though your

work load was more than you could handle? What about getting sick after a few late nights of

studying? Have you ever had a feeling of intense anxiety, which resulted in chest pain or trouble

breathing? If you have answered yes to any of these questions, this web page is for you! Read

on to find out how stress affects your body and what you can do to counter these effects.

DEFINITION OF STRESS: 1. constraining force or influence: as A : a force exerted when one body or body part presses on, pulls on, pushes against, or tends to compress or twist another body or body part; especially : the intensity of this mutual force commonly expressed in pounds per square inch B: the deformation caused in a body by such a force C : a physical, chemical, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension and may be a factor in disease causation D: a state resulting from a stress; especially : one of bodily or mental tension resulting from factors that tend to alter an existent equilibrium. *definitions taken from Merriam-Webster's Dictionary

Controlled Stress (Eustress)

Where does stress come from?

Stress can be derived from abiotic elements such as temperature, malnutrition or dehydration, or from one's own cognitive perceptions (the interpretation of an environmental demand as exceeding one's ability to cope). Some stress is healthy. Stressful events can be fun, depending upon an individual’s stimulus threshold. Some individuals enjoy things like skydiving, hanging from cliffs, or bunjee jumping. Stress can motivate us, help us perform some tasks better, and sometimes help us quickly avoid injuries or even possible death! This is known as eustress. However, too much stress can cause illness (via. lowered immune response), depression, and lowered energy levels (Selye 1982). A major secondary reason that stress negatively effects our physiology is because humans often engage in harmful activities such as smoking, drinking, or eating junk food when put under stress. Stress that negatively effects us is called distress.