Dr Hans Selye from Montreal coined the word stress over sixty years ago. Stress is an integral component of our existence and Dr Selye has stated that, “Complete freedom from stress is death.” Stress is a feeling created when we react to particular events. It’s the body way of rising to a challenge and preparing to meet a tough situation with focus, strength, stamina, and heightened alertness.

When the body responds to a particular event, the nervous system reacts and adrenal glands release hormones in the blood stream producing physical changes within the body to help a person to react quickly and effectively to handle the pressure of the moment. The natural reaction is called the stress response.

The body’s stress response enhances a person’s ability to perform well under pressure. There are two categories of stress: good stress characterized by happiness and enjoyment and bad stress or distress characterized by anguish, tension and worry.

The Good stress can keep you on your toes, ready to rise to a challenge. With little stress, the nervous system quickly returns to its normal state, standing by to respond again when needed. But, stress is different for every person. Some people seem to thrive on high-pressure situations, while others in the same situation could feel overwhelmed and threatened. Read the rest of this entry »