What makes one person more ‘laid-back’
versus the next is determined from one’s stress response. Certain
people are high strung while others are calmer. Generally, most
people fall between the high and lows these extremes. Genetics
plays its role, as well. Both under-active and overactive stress
may trigger from the variations of their genetic make-up.
Life experiences may intensify stress sensitivity.
Stalwart stress reactions may be stem from early environmental
factors. Adults who endured significant pressure as children
are more prone to the vulnerability of stress.
To demystify what the stress response it is
import to understand how it works or responds to intense situations.
For example, the fight-or-flight response never powers down;
as a result, the stress hormones produced by the nervous system
will never stop production until the afflicted returns to a
normal life. As a result, the overwhelmed will have a persistent
feeling of defenselessness impending doom and anxiety.
Moreover, over-sensitivity to pressure has
been associated with severe depression. In certain cases, the
problem is linked to people who are more challenged by adjusting
to the negative effects of cortisol.
The derivatives of cortisol perform like sedatives which contribute
to the general feeling of depression. Exorbitant amounts of
cortisol may trigger a loss of appetite, sleep disturbances
or even an impaired sex drive.
Not to mention, the cardiovascular system is
affected during events of fight or flight. In the heart, increased
levels of cortisol may elevate the heart rate and hasten cholesterol
and triglyceride levels (the blood pressure and blood lipid).
For strokes and the heart, these are serious health factors.
Additionally, cortisol levels have been shown to impact how
fat is accumulated in the abdomen. Also, stress has been proven
to worsen many skin conditions:
• Acne
• Eczema
• Hives
• Psoriasis |
