Summary

__ Summary __

Websites:

__ The first website __ explains what stress is and how to deal with it. Stress can be caused by both good and bad experiences. When people are stressed, their bodies react by releasing chemicals into your blood.

Both physical and emotional factors cause stress. Some of the most common sources of stress are survival stress, internal stress, environmental stress, and fatigue and overwork. Survival stress deals with fight or flight. Your body naturally responds with a burst of energy so that you will be better able to survive the dangerous situation or escape it all together. Internal stress has to do with worrying about things for no reason at all. This stress comes from you. Environmental stress is a response to things around you that cause stress, such as noise, crowding and pressure from work or family. Fatigue and overwork can be caused by working too hard or too much at your job or work.

Stress can affect both your mind and body.

__ The second website __ explains how stress affects the body. Under sudden stress, you will get a burst of exceptional strength and endurance, as your body pumps out stress hormones. Your heart will speed up, blood flow to your brain and muscles increase up to 400%, your digestion stops, your muscle tension increases and you breathe faster.

Stress can also hurt us. It has been estimated that two-thirds of all visits to physicians are from stress-related problems. Stress can cause fatigue, headaches, colds and diseases, risk of stroke, increase the danger of heart attack, etc.

__ The third website __ has to do with Hans Selye, who is considered one of the early pioneers of modern stress theory. Selye defined stress as: //“Stress is the nonspecific response of the body to any demand, whether it is caused by, or results in, pleasant or unpleasant conditions.” //

Videos:

__ The first video: __ Once stresses purpose was to save us. Normal mammals use stress to save themselves and run away from predators. Stress is not a state of mind, but something measurable and dangerous. Stress is the body’s way of rising to a challenge, whether the challenge is life threatening or fun. You don’t need to get rid of stress; you just need to find the right kind of stress, such of the stress you get from roller coaster rides

__ The second video: __ Stress can be managed. It’s about gaining control. The things that causes people the most stress in life are the things that they feel they have no control over. The worst thing you can do about stress is keep it internal. It is better to go talk to a counselor or even a friend about it. Relaxation techniques are very useful when it comes to dealing with stress.

__ The third video: __ When under stress, you will get some adrenaline. You will get strength that you didn’t know you had. Adrenaline is a hormone, it heightens all senses from your hearing, your smell and your thought processes so you can be very focused to get out of a dangerous situation. There is instant energy stored in your muscles for emergency situations.

Journals__:__

__ Frayed, Frazzled, at the End of Your Rope: Can Stress Cause Weight Gain? __

There are three stages to stress; general alarm, a stage of resistance, and a stage of exhaustion or even death if the stress is severe enough. When stressed, some people find themselves eating more, particularly the so-called "comfort foods" often high in fat, sugar, and salt, whereas others find themselves unable to eat at all. Stress leads to weight gain and obesity in humans.

__ Isn't Stress a Motivator? __

Stress is better described as stimulation and engagement rather than a motivator. Stress ‘motivates’ us in harmful ways. Without stress we would have more energy to do activities and tasks. We all enjoy pushing ourselves to accomplish our objectives. We don’t need stress to get there, but stimulation and engagement.