Research is showing that it is not what we have to deal with, but how we deal with it that determines the severity of stress in our lives. Stressors are the pressures from the outside (either good such as winning a lottery; or bad such as a divorce), and stress is your response to stressors. Good stressors (such as planning a wedding) are called eustress; and bad stressors (such as a death of a loved one) are called distress. Eustress can become distress (for example wedding plans are upset). This article will concentrate on stressors known as distress.
Our reactions to distress go through three stages: alarm reaction followed by state of resistance, then state of exhaustion. Immediate physical effects of the alarm reaction include increased blood pressure, increased heart rate, increased heart contraction (faster beats), reduced blood flow to kidneys and intestines, dilated pupils, dilated bronchial tubes, increased muscular strength, release of glucose from liver, and increased mental activity. If the distress continues, the person enters a state of resistance where the person appears to be coping well with the distress. But, energy is expended as the person copes with the continued presence of the distress, and as the body continues the physical affects of the alarm reaction. If the distress if not removed, the person enters the next stage of exhaustion and becomes physically and mentally spent.
The mental effects of ongoing distress include mental fatigue with a loss of spontaneity and creativity; confusion, forgetfulness, and difficulty in making decisions; anxiety which may include night time panic attacks; depression; low self worth; and lower intellectual functioning.
The social effects of ongoing distress include procrastination; lack of concern for others and deteriorating relationships; reduced effectiveness in communications; emotional hypersensitivity with a tendency to overreact; lost of control of temper or aggressions; increased risk taking; and increased drug abuse.
The spiritual effects on ongoing distress include questioning values and faith; losing the meaning and purpose of life; blaming God for problems; abandoning faith; trying to find solutions apart from God and religion. To compound the problem, some have believed spiritual principles that are neither helpful nor biblical. One of these principles is the prosperity doctrine that teaches that if a person is good enough (or has enough faith), then he/she will have benefits such as financial prosperity and healing. The psalmist describes how he had believed the doctrine of prosperity and experienced distress as he went through difficulty while wicked people prospered. Then the psalmist reevaluated God’s character through deeper bible study and ended the Psalm on a note of praise.
Continuing distress affects the onset, treatment, or recovery from the following diseases and conditions: coronary artery disease and stroke; cancer; depression; angina pectoris; diabetes mellitus; tuberculosis; rheumatoid arthritis; hypertension; ulcers; AIDS; tension headaches, allergies, common colds, PMS, warts, skin rashes, loss of hair, graying of hair, dandruff, gout, and herpes.