Stress: Instructions For Use. Stress Hormones

2024 Author: Harry Day | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 15:43

Stress: instructions for use

The body's response to stress

The brain is covered with gray matter. The gray matter consists of nerve cells - neurons. Neurons have a little body and tentacles with suction cups. Neurons are tense because biochemical processes are constantly taking place in them. Discharge occurs when the suction cups touch each other. Neurons are arranged in layers and connecting to form a neural network. Neural networks are formed in the learning process and in accordance with the learned experience of a person. For example, for one person, traveling by train will be an exciting adventure, for another it will be a painful time that must be endured or better avoided.

Stress exposure is influenced by age, gender, personal developmental history, as well as:

The degree of control over the situation;

Predictability of events;

Our expectations;

The presence or absence of support.

Weight these factors determine the level of stress.

Biochemical processes in neurons, in accordance with the subjective perception of the situation, cause the suppression of some parts of the brain, and the activation of others. When the sympathetic nervous system is activated, a stress response occurs. You can talk a lot about hormones and those unique cocktails in which they are mixed. I will try to narrow this information down so that the reader has a general idea of what happens in the body under stress. In the list of references given at the end of the article, the reader, if desired, can find more detailed information about the names and mechanisms of hormonal reactions.

Stress hormones

The most important hormones in the stress response are adrenaline and norepinephrine. They are synthesized by the sympathetic nervous system. Another important class of stress response hormones is called glucocorticoids, of which the best known hormone cortisol … Cortisol helps the body withstand stressful situations. An increased level of cortisol can be associated not only with a clear danger to humans, but also with some changes in living conditions that the body perceives as a danger. Sometimes the best intentions, such as playing sports, eating "healthy" can lead to a nervous breakdown. But before that, there was chronic stress that was ignored. Excessive physical activity, lack of quality nutrition (diet, malnutrition), lack of sleep, alcohol abuse, endocrine disorders can lead to distress ("bad stress", more about distress in the article "Stress: instructions for use"

Types of stress). If you want to lose weight - go to a nutritionist, consult an experienced trainer: a balanced, competent diet, moderate, in accordance with your personality, physical activity will significantly improve the quality of life and avoid many diseases, both physical and psychological problems. A group of glucocorticoid hormones are secreted by the adrenal glands, and their action is often similar to that of adrenaline. Adrenaline begins to act within a few seconds, aglucocorticoids maintain its effect from several minutes to several hours. Hormone control is in the brain's area of responsibility.

Physiology of stress

From a biological point of view, stress is a natural physiological reaction of the body to a violation of homeostasis.

Since in the modern world the danger is more mental than physical, then from this point of view, stress is a negative perception or reaction to excessive pressure or excessive demands on a person.

The body's response to stress is triggered as follows: when an event occurs that the brain, in accordance with the current experience, refers to the category of dangerous, or we think about something negative, the "SOS" signal is transmitted through neural connections to the hypothalamus, which secretes in the hypothalamic-pituitary circulatory system, several hormones. The main of these hormones is called CRH (corticotropin-releasing hormone), which triggers the production of the hormone ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone, corticotropin) in the pituitary gland. After ACTH enters the bloodstream, it reaches the adrenal glands, and after a few minutes, glucocorticoids are produced. Together glucocorticoids and secretion of the sympathetic nervous system (adrenaline and norepinephrine) to a large extent are responsible for what happens in our body during stress … Norepinephrine and adrenaline induce emotions of fear and rage.

So, there is a release of adrenaline and cortisol.

Adrenalin:

- regulates the heart rate;

- regulates the flow of air into the lungs;

- affects the diameter of blood vessels and bronchi.

Cortisol:

- increases blood sugar levels;

- suppresses the immune system;

- speeds up metabolism.

During stress pancreasbegins to produce hormone glucagon … A cocktail of glucocorticoids, glucagon and secretion of the sympathetic nervous system increases glucose levels in blood. Glucose provides the energy needed to respond to stress. Other hormones are also activated. The pituitary gland produces prolactin, which besides other effects promotes suppression of reproductive function during stress … The pituitary gland and the brain also produce a special class of endogenous morphine-like substances endorphins and enkephalins which, among other things, dull the sensation of pain … Finally, the pituitary gland produces vasopressin, hormone regulating fluid levels in the body, which plays an important role in the response of the cardiovascular system to stress. Vasopressin maintains water homeostasis within the body, which is essential for life.

In response to stress, certain glands are activated, and various hormonal systems are inhibited during stress. Decreased secretion various hormones of the reproductive system, such as estrogen, progesterone and testosterone … The production of hormones associated with growth function (such as hormone somatotropin), same oppressedlike insulin production, a pancreatic hormone that normally helps the body store energy for later use.

These scientific facts indicate a direct connection between the emotional state and diseases such as diabetes mellitus, reproductive system dysfunctions, cardiovascular diseases, and various addictions. These relationships will be described in more detail in the article: "Stress and Physical Health".

In a psychotherapy group "Effective stress management" we not only master the most "working" techniques of relaxation, self-regulation, but also learn to withstand stress, identify and use zones of tension to explore internal conflicts, which leads to conscious living (I cannot say that to complete control of life - that would be too arrogant, but, to some extent, and managing your life).

References:

The Psychology of Stress or Why Zebras Don't Have Ulcers by Robert Sapolsky.

Stephen Evans-Howie "How to beat stress at work in 7 days."