Stress Response

Introduction
The body and mind work together, ie your bodies are continually reacting and interacting with your thoughts and emotions.
You experience different levels of stress continually; you therefore need to understand what exactly it is and how it impacts you.
Stress is more than a physical response, as it usually starts in our heads before triggering a chain reaction in your bodies; it is part of your evolutionary instinct to survive.
"...this instinct is activated in times of threat and, certainly for our ancestors, living in a more dangerous and precarious environment, this meant the difference between life and death..."
Cheryl Rezek, 2015

In recent times, there are perceived threats that can trigger flight/fight/ freeze response, ie
"...when you experience stress, your mind does not realise that you aren't necessarily in real danger and so it reacts as though you may be, or are confronted with a real threat to your safety......all those anxious, demanding, special thoughts that swirl around your head can be perceived by your mind as danger which then triggers off the stress response and puts you into a state of high alert, even though there is no real danger......your mind cannot distinguish between the two situations (perceived danger and actual/real danger) so your body is constantly being activated and over-activated, which is why stress is so damaging..."
Cheryl Rezek, 2015

Sympathetic Parasympathetic Nervous Systems
After reacting to the stressor, your body and mind returns to a level of normality.
"...a psychological reaction to stress is activated by the sympathetic nervous system.....and the process of the body returning to a balanced state is brought about by the parasympathetic system..."

Cheryl Rezek, 2015

NB If the stress is continuous, your sympathetic nervous system stays in a continuous overactive state; over time, this can wear you down and cause both physical and psychological problem.
Links with ongoing stress:
The following conditions are linked with stress
"...- organ and memory cell damaged
     - distorted thinking
     - fatty deposits around waist
     - irritable bowel syndrome/stomach problems
     - ageing
     - depression
     - hypertension
     - rheumatoid arthritis
     - diabetes
     - cancer
     - pain conditions
     - sleep disturbance
     - infertility, hormone imbalances, impotence
     - loss of libido
     - relationship difficulties
     - decrease in work performance
     - decrease in quality of life
     - increase in use of substances, eg alcohol or drugs
     - increase in risk-taking, eg gambling or spending money you don't have..."
Cheryl Rezek, 2015