Stress is how we feel when we respond to things that happen. It's the body's way of rising to a challenge and getting ready to face a tough situation with focus, strength, stamina, and heightened alertness.
The things that make you feel stressed are called "stressors," and they can be anything from being in physical danger to giving a presentation in class or taking a semester's worth of your hardest class.
Stress and how we think about things
Most of the stress we feel is subtle and doesn't pose an obvious threat to our survival. This is especially true in our normal work lives. Most comes from things like too much work, priorities that don't match, values that don't match, deadlines that are too hard, conflicts with coworkers, unpleasant environments, and so on. Not only do these make us less productive because we have to use mental energy to deal with them, but they can also make us very unhappy.
What does short-term stress do?
Imagine yourself in a primitive situation, like being chased by a bear, to get a better idea of what acute stress feels like.
How the Brain Deals with Short-Term Stress
A part of the brain called the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) system is turned on when the bear is seen.
Steroid Hormones Are Let Out. The HPA systems cause the body to make and release steroid hormones (glucocorticoids), such as cortisol, which is the main stress hormone. Cortisol is very important for getting the heart, lungs, circulation, metabolism, immune system, and skin to work together quickly so that the body can deal with the bear.
Catecholamines are let out. The HPA system also sends out catecholamines, which are neurotransmitters. Dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine are all examples of catecholamines (also called adrenaline).
What's a stress ball?
What if we told you that you can work out and calm down at the same time? And that it's simple, doesn't take much thought, and won't make you sweat? Or that if you use this hand-held object regularly, you will become stronger?
It's a stress ball, after all. So, why don't you just do it? Today, buy a stress ball for yourself.
