fight or flight: our natural response to danger
When we feel stressed, our bodies release stress hormones called cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones prepare our body for the “fight or flight” response, which is our body's automatic response to danger.
It's thought that this evolved hundreds of thousands of years ago as a way to help us react to life-threatening situations. This response puts our brains on high alert and gets our bodies ready for action by raising our heart rate, so our muscles are sufficient with energy to either fight the threat or run away from it.
However, in the modern age, we’re not being chased by predators anymore and yet our bodies will still respond to situations in the same way, but for psychological stressors, such as work-related challenges or relationship difficulties. What makes this problematic is that these stressors happen often and daily.
Whilst a small amount of stress can be useful to motivate us to reach deadlines or prepare our brains to be alert for a task. If stress is making you feel constantly overwhelmed, this exposure to long-term (chronic) stress can have a real impact on your physical and mental health. Learn to spot the signs of stress:
what causes stress?
Life would be much more straight forward if we could pin stress on just one reason. However, the causes and triggers of stress are much more personal and dependent on our experiences throughout life. But we do often have common similarities such as:
- Money problems
- Work responsibilities
- Worrying about something or someone
- Being under pressure
- Bereavement
- Relationship strains
- Care responsibilities
- Health concerns
The list is endless. And just because you might find something stressful and someone else doesn’t is perfectly okay. We all have varying response reactions to certain situations and that is why it’s important to be easy on yourself. There are ways that you can help prevent and tackle stress when it arises. Read more in our guide:
“When I first spoke to caba, I felt understood very quickly and I was so relieved that I’d put my hand up to ask for help.”
long-term effects of chronic stress
Sometimes, a stress response can be useful. It can boost our awareness in stressful situations and help us cope with emergencies.
But if it happens too often, or for too long, the constant release of stress hormones can lead to physical health problems, including:
- stomach or digestive problems like diarrhoea, constipation, and nausea
- a weakened immune system, causing regular colds and infections
- exhaustion or sleeping problems
- heart disease
