It’s a natural response to the experiences we encounter in our lives, triggering a range of physical and mental reactions that help our bodies initiate what’s known as a “fight-or-flight” response to potentially dangerous situations.
When encountering a difficult situation, our body kicks in with physical changes that help us cope. The body releases stress hormones, such as cortisol and adrenaline, which are meant to give us the extra boost of energy, muscle stamina, and mental alertness we would need when facing a life-or-death, fight-or-flee scenario.
The brain gets extra oxygen, which is meant to boost our problem-solving abilities. Our heart rates go up, pushing more oxygen to the muscles in the body, and our breathing rate increases to keep our blood oxygenated.
As an evolutionary mechanism, it’s ingenious. However, the fight-or-flight response wasn’t designed to be used over an extended period of time. So when our daily stresses transformed from avoiding becoming dinner while trying to catching our own to coping with unhappy marriages, difficult employers, or chronic illnesses, the evolutionary design of the fight-or-flight response has led to a number of negative effects on our overall health and mental well-being.
Statistics show how serious stress can be for our health:
● 43 percent of all adults will suffer health problems related to stress
● at least 75 percent of doctor’s office visits are for stress-related complaints or illnesses
● The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has officially recognized stress as a workplace hazard - and has given it a price tag. Stress costs American businesses more than $300 billion annually.