Stress is a physiopsychological picture that every person experiences at different times and in different ways. This picture, which can cause many psychological problems such as focusing disorder, insomnia, increased anxiety, anger problems, also puts the physical health of the person at risk in the long run and may cause infection, muscle pain, stomach and intestinal problems. In case of prolonged stress, the immune system weakens and the person becomes vulnerable to more serious health problems. In order to protect both physical health and increase the quality of life, it is necessary to know the stress mechanism correctly, to have information about ways to cope with stress, and to control stress with appropriate methods.
What is Stress?
Stress is a physiopsychological reaction that occurs when the physical and mental health of the person is threatened and these limits are pushed. In the face of threats and compulsions, the body initiates a chain of reactions in order to protect itself, and the response, also called "fight or flight" in psychology, is revealed. If a person thinks that he can cope with a danger when he is faced with it, he stays there and fights this danger; In situations of danger that he thinks he cannot cope with, he tends to move away and gives the reaction of running away. In this way, in both cases, adaptation to new conditions is achieved.
Stress is an unavoidable phenomenon that every person frequently experiences in daily life. In the beginning, psychological problems such as anxiety, anxiety, tension and unhappiness occur in the person, but in case of long-term excessive stress, physical problems can also be seen. While these make it difficult for the person to adapt to daily life conditions, on the other hand, they weaken the immune system and make the person vulnerable to many diseases. . As a result, the body initiates a reaction chain consisting of 3 different stages. In the first stage, the body activates the alarm mechanism and develops various physiological reactions such as the secretion of stress hormones, increased blood pressure and sweating. The second stage is the resistance stage. Problem effect perceived as a source of stress When it is properly resolved, the body removes the damage that occurs during the alarm phase and the level of stress hormones decreases. As a result, physiological responses such as high blood pressure and sweating disappear. In the third stage of the stress reaction, the body may experience a state of exhaustion. When the sources of stress that cannot be dealt with and overcome effectively increase, the adaptive capacity of the body decreases and the reactions at the alarm stage become continuous and cause chronic stress.
What are the Types of Stress?
Types of stress, acute stress, It is defined in three different ways: episodic acute stress and chronic stress. In the case of acute stress, many signs and symptoms of stress are felt intensely, but the body manages to control the stress quickly. The type of stress that almost everyone experiences for a short time during the day and does not interrupt the functioning of daily life is acute stress. In episodic acute stress, on the other hand, acute stress that recurs frequently during the day is seen. This can cause the person to have a generally anxious and tense profile and to get angry very quickly. Episodic acute stress situation that is not controlled with the right coping methods causes chronic stress in the future and in this case, the effects of stress on the body are felt much more seriously.
Acute stress can be exciting, energizing and stimulating, while chronic The stress table causes the person to lose energy, become physically and mentally tired and lose their functionality. This stress picture usually occurs as a result of underlying traumatic problems rather than the routine concerns of daily life. Unresolved problems such as childhood traumas, problematic family environment and long-term health problems may result in chronic stress in the future.
What are the Symptoms of Stress?
Stress diseases occur with different physiological and psychological symptoms. may come out. Recognizing these symptoms correctly and recognizing them quickly is extremely important in order to be protected from diseases that may be caused by stress. ,
What are the Symptoms of Psychological Stress?
- The first psychological symptom that occurs in case of stress is the feeling of anxiety and restlessness,
- The person has difficulty focusing during stress periods, problems concentrating
- Problems such as forgetfulness and distraction are frequently encountered,
- Irritable mood is observed, a sense of uncontrollability occurs,
- The person feels sad, angry, and under pressure. .
What Causes Stress?
Many factors can be a source of stress in line with the circumstances of the person. A situation that is not considered a cause of stress for one person may be a cause for serious stress for another. Therefore, when defining the factors that cause stress, it should be known that each factor may vary according to individuals and situations. In this respect, the factors causing stress can be listed as follows:
- Important life events and changes in daily life are the most common sources of environmental stress. For example, starting university, moving to a new city, losing a family member, having serious health problems are situations that change the daily life flow of a person and require re-adjustment. The readjustment process causes stress in the vast majority of people.
- Ordinary problems of daily life are also important sources of stress. Communication problems with the immediate environment such as resentment, separation, the tiring pace of business life, economic problems and many other problems in daily life can cause symptoms of excessive stress and even the development of stress-related diseases. The frequency of these events The increase in stress weakens the immune system of the person and increases the susceptibility to diseases.
- Personal sources of stress are as important as environmental sources. The mental activities of the person, his perspective on events and the way he perceives events can greatly increase the stress level of the person. The intensity of stress experienced during an event is directly related to the way the person approaches the event and the internal dialogue he has with himself while experiencing this event. Therefore, in some cases, the person can be the source of his own stress. This attitude is an important problem that greatly affects the self-confidence of the individual and makes it extremely difficult to cope with stress. Expert support is often required in such stress tables.
Which Diseases Causes Stress?
When the effects of stress on human health are examined, the long-term stress situation has many effects on the body. It has been seen that it causes disruptions in the functioning of the system and stress wears out the person physiologically as well as psychologically. In case of stress, cortisol hormone, also called “stress hormone”, is secreted in the body and this hormone rapidly increases stomach acid secretion. At the same time, when the hormone cortisol, which reduces the blood supply of the digestive system organs, is secreted too much, a common ulcer problem occurs in the stomach. This can lead to various health problems such as pain, indigestion, feeding problems and stomach bleeding in the future. Therefore, in case of widespread stress, it is necessary to take care to consume healthy foods and avoid acidic beverages in order to control stomach acid. These hormones increase the amount of fatty acids circulating freely in the blood, and this causes lubrication of the vessel wall in the long run. As a result, the risk of vascular occlusion and heart attack increases significantly. Cardiovascular health is directly related to stress. It is especially important for people with any heart disease and people over 65 to control their stress level in order to protect their cardiovascular health. Hormones such as cortisol, which increases due to stress Besides all this, it suppresses the immune system of the person and makes him vulnerable to many diseases associated with infection. Stress is not directly effective in the development of cancer, but the spread of cancer in the body and its recurrence in the later process is directly related to the stress factor. It is extremely important to maintain physical health integrity. Especially in today's world, it is necessary to have a strong immune system to provide full protection against various infectious diseases such as Covid-19. In order to lead a calm, peaceful and healthy life, it is important to develop methods of coping with stress and to make them into daily life habits. For this, it is necessary to be planned and programmed in the area where stress is experienced, to seek help if necessary to solve the problems, to talk to people who can help, to avoid situations that intensify stress, to create more calm and peaceful environments to encourage coping, and to apply the method of self-suggestion in order to realize the desired behavior. In the self-suggestion method, one should always try to organize his thoughts in a positive way. It is important to look at the events in the most positive way possible and to fight with unrealistic thought patterns. For example, losing a loved one is one of the situations that puts a person under serious stress and cannot be changed. In such moments, coping methods that focus on emotions are preferred in order to make it easier for the person to adapt to the new situation and to reduce the level of stress experienced. In this direction, it is recommended that the person avoid situations that remind him of painful events, do exercises to reduce muscle tension, apply deep breathing exercises for mental calmness, engage in activities that give him pleasure in his spare time, and receive social and psychological support if necessary. exit methods b
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