Psychological researcher Richard Lazarus deemed stress "a state of anxiety produced when events and responsibilities exceed one's coping abilities." It affects millions of people worldwide, causing 70-80% of chronic diseases, many of which may lead to death. As technology improves-- supposedly to make our lives easier -- people are forced to fit more into their lives. Because of these improving new technologies, expectations for multi-tasking have increased in the home and the workplace. As a result, stress levels have increased significantly, most notably since World War II. It is interesting to note that prior to World War II, stress was purely a physics term, used to signify the amount of force or tension on an object.
Eastern and Western Philosophies Toward Stress
In Western cultures, stress is seen as something of a badge of honor; a status symbol. Vacations and relaxation are luxuries that people do not typically make time for, especially with the average work week increasing from 40 to 60 hours per week, and that is in addition to commute time. The West views the mind and body as two separate entities, and does not typically treat the two as a wholly functioning being. Eastern philosophies, however, consider stress to be an absence of inner peace, where the mind and body function as one.
Stress and the Physical Body
Stress alters the body's physiological systems, throwing them out of homeostasis, and thus making them more prone to chronic disease. Hans Selye said the body doesn't know the difference between positive and negative stress, but it remains clear that stress causes degradation to the body. The stress response is what is commonly known as the fight or flight response. It is produced by fear and allows the body to break down fat stores to provide fuel for survival, but when used correctly is only for very short bursts of time before the body returns to homeostasis. When chronic stress is present, this process is happening non-stop, without the opportunity for the body to return to homeostasis.
Types and Causes of Stress
Stress can be classified as eustress (good stress), neustress (neutral stress), and distress (bad stress). It can be caused by a myriad of stimuli, but it is important to know that what may stress one person out may be perceived as another as a positive thing. For example, a vacation can be viewed by one as a relaxing escape, where another may feel anxiety at the thought of leaving their normal environment. School, jobs, relationships, the environment, technology, retirement, and one's mental processes can cause somebody to feel stressed out, but will vary from person to person.
Regardless of the cause, taking a holistic approach to the management of stress -- balancing the paradigm of mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being -- is the most effective way of developing a stress-hardy mind and body.
Elizabeth Murphy - Libby has a Bachelor of Science in Community Health Education, and a minor in Writing. She is a Holistic Stress Management Instructor, and ...
