| If you have ever suffered from a physical or | | | | away from digestive organ and reproductive |
| emotional symptom that was related to the | | | | organ because for survival it becomes a low |
| stress in your life, you will want to know | | | | priority to digest food or keep the species |
| how you can minimize these symptoms. Control | | | | alive if you are threatened. Symptoms that |
| begins with awareness and knowing how your | | | | can be associated with this stress response |
| habitual response to stress leads to your | | | | might include: high blood pressure, cold |
| symptoms. Any of your physical systems that | | | | hands and feet, upset stomach, migraine |
| react to stress can be controlled. Begin the | | | | headaches, pre-ulcerous/ulcerous conditions, |
| process for developing control by | | | | increased colitis, sometimes constipation, |
| understanding how your body responds to | | | | and 70% of sexual dysfunction in both men and |
| stress.The primitive survival mechanism known | | | | women can be linked to this stress |
| as the "Fight/Flight" response is built in to | | | | response.7. All of your senses are heightened |
| every human. It responds to fear/danger from | | | | are survival vigilance. You are more |
| everything from life threatening situations | | | | sensitive to noise (ringing telephones or |
| to the alarm going off in the morning. Every | | | | door bells), to light, to smells, even to |
| human has a habitual response to stress that | | | | increased sensitivity to touch. Your |
| is either learned or genetically implanted. | | | | neo-cortex (the thinking part of your new |
| In a real life or death situation almost all | | | | brain) shuts down and the survival mechanisms |
| of this response will be trigger by survival | | | | in the middle and lower more primitive parts |
| to help you to fight off or flee this | | | | of the brain take over, so you react to |
| danger.Since awareness is half the battle in | | | | things and do not think things through as |
| controlling stress, you must learn to be | | | | well. Basic emotions: fear, anger, sadness, |
| aware of how you respond to stress. Remember, | | | | and joy (nervous laughter) take over from |
| you have a unique response. It may include:1. | | | | complicated, sophisticated higher function |
| Increased heart rate. This pumps blood around | | | | emotions. Symptoms that can be associated |
| the body to get oxygen and sugars to the | | | | with this stress response might include: |
| cells that you will need to use to survive. | | | | emotional irritability, substance abuse to |
| Symptoms that can be associated with this | | | | escape stress through self-medication, |
| stress response might include: Rapid or | | | | anxiety, depression, poor impulse control, |
| irregular heartbeats2. Breathing usually | | | | poor problem solving and reduced |
| becomes more rapid. To get more oxygen into | | | | communication abilities8. You perspire/sweat |
| the body. Symptoms that can be associated | | | | to cool the body's increased metabolism down. |
| with this stress response might include: | | | | Symptoms that can be associated with this |
| hyperventilation and some forms of asthma3. | | | | stress response might include: hyperhidrosis |
| Stress hormones are released. Adrenaline, | | | | (which can lead to dehydration due to over |
| also called epinephrine, is released by the | | | | sweating)9. Imbalances in normal hormone |
| adrenal glands. This hormone helps to | | | | levels. Longer term, unresolved stress can |
| maintain increased heart rates and will tell | | | | affect the immune system which is normally |
| the liver to release stored sugar for energy | | | | there to fight off infections and promote |
| to the body. Other stress hormones do other | | | | healing. Symptoms that can be associated with |
| thing. Noradrenaline is associated with anger | | | | this stress response might include: frequent |
| and will raise blood pressure for most | | | | colds or flu's, infections, cancer or tumor |
| people. Symptoms that can be associated with | | | | development, increased allergic responses, |
| this stress response might include: high | | | | auto-immune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, |
| blood pressure, panic or anxiety4. Blood | | | | lupus, scleroderma)Everyone holds their |
| pressure can go up. Triggered by released | | | | tension in one or more of these systems. You |
| stress hormones. Symptoms that can be | | | | need to identify which systems respond when |
| associated with this stress response might | | | | you get stressed and then learn to release |
| include: high blood pressure5. Muscles that | | | | this physical tension. It takes time and |
| you would use to fight or flee often become | | | | motivated practice to learn to let go but the |
| very tight until released by relaxation, | | | | results in enhanced quality of life and |
| massage, stretching, or exercise. This is one | | | | increased productivity are worth the |
| of the most common responses to stress and | | | | effort.If you would like coaching so you can |
| has lead to everyday expressions like: | | | | develop a program to control your response to |
| "uptight", "Pain in the neck" (and other | | | | stress please contact the Stress Education |
| places.) Symptoms that can be associated with | | | | Center (707) 795-2228 website: John Mason, |
| this stress response might include: tension | | | | Ph.D. is the author of the best selling |
| headaches, tight jaw, neck/shoulder pain | | | | "Guide to Stress Reduction." Since 1977, he |
| tension, back pain, insomnia (including | | | | has offered Executive Coaching and |
| trouble getting to sleep, staying asleep, or | | | | Training.Please visit the Stress Education |
| not feeling rested after sleeping), fatigue, | | | | Center's website at for articles, stress |
| loss of concentration (distracted by muscle | | | | management CD's, free ezine signup, and learn |
| pain or tension), learning disabilities, poor | | | | about the new telecourses that are available. |
| communication (listening and speaking)6. | | | | If you would like information or a targeted |
| Changes in blood flow/circulation. Blood is | | | | proposal for training or coaching, please |
| directed toward the brain and major muscles | | | | contact us at (707) 795-2228.If you are |
| for survival. Blood is directed away from | | | | looking to promote your training or coaching |
| surface of skin in hands and feet (for | | | | career, please investigate the Professional |
| survival a primitive response so you do not | | | | Stress Management Training and Certification |
| bleed to death if you get cut running away or | | | | Program for a secondary source of income or |
| fighting for your life.) Blood is directed | | | | as career path. |