In primitive times, if someone encountered a bear or a tiger, his body would start producing catabolic (stress) hormones called cortisol so that he could be physically prepared to engage in "fight or flight". For modern man, the very same mechanism is at work as a response to the stressors each of us encounters on a daily basis.
 
Stress can shorten your life. It interferes with the regenerative work that stem cells do in your body. When stress hormones damage tissues, cells and organs, stem cells come to the rescue. They stay idle in your bone marrow until needed, then snap into action to replace damaged cells.

However, if you are always mentally revved up, stem cells can't do their jobs. Your brain needs to be on idle before stem cells can go to work. Also, you don't have an infinite supply of stem cells. The more you use to repair stress damage, the fewer you have to make other repairs to your body later. That explains why stress plays an important role in the development of degenerative diseases, including cancer and heart disease.
 
Stress can make you fat. Stress hormones encourage anabolic processes like fat storage, especially in the abdomen. When you are chronically stressed, your body produces too much cortisol which slows down your metabolism. You tend to crave fatty, salty and/or sugary foods. Prolonged stress can also alter your blood sugar levels and lead to greater health problems such as diabetes.
 
Stress can affect proper sleep. Some people seem to lose sleep over periods of stress while others seem to sleep like a baby. Research suggests that the difference may be explained by the ways people cope. Those who tend to get wrapped up on their emotions and anxiety during the high-stress period are more likely to have poor sleep, while those who tend to stay focused mainly on the tasks at-hand sleep better and shut themselves off from stress. Hence, it is essential that we learn how to cope with the stressors in our daily lives.

Life Skills for Coping with Stress 

Gather the gang. Leaning on friends or family during major life events (such as divorce, job loss, or death) can help alleviate the stress you encounter from these upheavals in life. Never under estimate the importance of a good support system.
 
Act like a mountain climber. When you face an insurmountable task, instead of complaining or resisting it, change your attitude to accept the challenge. Then do what mountain climbers do: take one step at a time. Break unmanageable obstacles into smaller, doable pieces.
 
Learn to relax. Deep breathing, meditation, guided imagery, journaling, positive affirmations, massage, yoga, humor, and pet ownership are some ways to help you relieve stress. It is particularly important to de-stress before bedtime to ensure that you have quality sleep during periods of stress.

Many people use alcohol to relax themselves. Alcohol, after causing a short period of stimulation, does have a sedative effect and help you fall asleep faster. However, alcohol is metabolized rapidly in your body and it actually impairs your sleep during the second half of the night. You tend to have shallower sleep and awake more easily. Alcohol is also likely to worsen snoring and sleep apnea (a sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep).
 
Get moving. With all the demands on your schedule, exercise may be one of the last things on your to-do list. However, the secretion of too much cortisol can have an adverse impact on your immune system. Regular exercise is useful in removing the byproducts of the stress response and allows the body to return to equilibrium. Furthermore, the release of endorphins during physical activity will provide an analgesic (pain relieving) effect and promote a sense of euphoria.

© Copyright Carol Chuang, 2008.