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Cause and reactions.
When speaking of stress, people often have in mind the events that cause strong emotions. This is not surprising, because our reactions occur almost simultaneously with that which provokes them, and are perceived as part of what is happening. However, an event in itself, is not stress and does not always determine the nature and strength of the reaction. For example, for someone shopping is joy, for others - irritation, and there are some who just do not care. In order to find the source of stress energy one needs to distinguish the cause of stress (stressors) from the reaction (stress). The stressor is the change that brings our body out of balance and, thereby, causes a physiological response with the intent to survive and re-balance. Stressors can be: - internal or external; - physical, chemical, - biological or mental; real or imagined. Moreover, the imaginary stressor (eg, anticipation of a kiss “) may cause the same (if not stronger!) response than the real event (kiss). Mild stressors are useful and even necessary for normal life and development; they produce a helpful response - EUSTRESS (eustress). Eustress stimulates and develops the resources of the body, strengthening it and building health. However, if the change is: - too weak or too strong, - too rare or too long - have a special psychological significance for the individual Then it is called the Distress (distress), leading to decompensation of systems and resources of the body. |
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