According to WebMD, 43% of all adults incur adverse health effects from stress.
Stress is a loaded word. What does that mean?
Well, we tend to use the word stress to mean anything that is seemingly a hassle, or unpleasant to deal with.
The American Institute Of Stress says, “Stress is not a useful term for scientists because it is such a highly subjective phenomenon that it defies definition.”
The dictionary defines stress as…
1. “Pressure or tension exerted on a material object.”
“2. A state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.”
Historically, this hormone was only released when under threat of danger to life, but times have changed, and now something as trivial as being late for work induces a similar response in our bodies.
Regardless of the negative reputation, stress has developed over the years; it is an essential response to our survival, even if we are not actively under threat.
This stress response helps prepare the body for what is about to come, and along with the neurotransmitter epinephrine/Adrenalin, gives rise to the “fight or flight” reflex within the autonomic nervous system.