As stated in the instructions, stress can be incredibly beneficial in our daily lives, serving as a source of motivation and drive for challenges that we will inevitably experience (called eustress in this case). However, stress can also cause negative effects on us in some cases, both mentally and physically (called distress in this case). When I feel (negatively) stressed, I often experience headaches, fatigue, insomnia, and fits of emotion. These can be linked to the stages and related hormones of the stress response, namely the fight-or-flight response, resistance response, and exhaustion.
Headaches
- May be caused by the adrenal gland
- Adrenal glands release cortisol when a person is experiencing stress (such as in the fight-or-flight response). While this helps in increasing heart rate and raising blood sugar, which are normal functions that are helpful in dangerous situations, these effects may also coincide with one's nervous system and trigger headaches.
Fatigue
- Related to the exhaustion stage of the stress response
- Prolonged exposure to stress/a stressor causes the depletion of the body's resources to fight stress. When this happens, one's immune system can weaken (which may result in other illnesses) and other regular body functions may deteriorate. In general, the body becomes tired after being put under stress for so long, likely causing fatigue. Chronic stress may also contribute to chronic fatigue, though the exact causes for chronic fatigue are not so clear yet.
Insomnia
- May be caused by the adrenal gland + high cortisol levels
- As discussed previously, the fight-or-flight response to stressful events can cause changes in the body such as increased heart rate, raised blood sugar, and muscle tension. These reactions are usually prolonged by hormones released in the resistance reaction stage, allowing for the reactions to last even after the initial stressor is removed/the fight-or-flight response has already dissipated. In some cases, though, the body does not immediately return to normal after the stressful event and high levels of cortisol remain. In these cases, it is possible for the body to be unable to relax and enter the appropriate stages of the sleep-wake cycle due to cortisol levels not decreasing, thus causing insomnia.
Emotional Distress
- HPA axis, glucocorticoids, and cortisol
- One effect of cortisol is the shrinking of the hippocampus in volume. This shrinking has been linked to people with different mood disorders, such as depression. This is because the hippocampus is responsible for emotion regulation (not to be mistaken for the amygdala, which triggers the actual emotions).
- Particular emotional effects of stress include depression, anxiety, irritability, mood swings, feelings of loneliness and isolation, and feeling overwhelmed.
References
Breus, M. (2022, September 9). Sleep and stress. The Sleep Doctor. Retrieved October 14, 2022, from https://thesleepdoctor.com/mental-health/stress-and-sleep/
Disease prevention and healthy lifestyles. The Stress Response | Disease Prevention and Healthy Lifestyles. (n.d.). Retrieved October 14, 2022, from https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-monroecc-hed110/chapter/general-adaptation-syndrome/
Doherty, C. (2022, June 25). Are my headaches a sign that my hormones are off? Verywell Health. Retrieved October 14, 2022, from https://www.verywellhealth.com/connection-between-headaches-and-hormones-1719608
Tortora, G. J., & Derrickson, B. (2012). Principles of Anatomy and Physiology (13th ed.). John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Zambon, V. (2020, October 30). Emotional symptoms of stress: What are they and how are they treated? Medical News Today. Retrieved October 14, 2022, from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/emotional-symptoms-of-stress#depression