Stress can be defined as a psychological and mental response to triggers in our environment.
Stress is a subject which is commonly conceived as a negative word, however stress is something that is present in our everyday lives and can even be used to your advantage depending on the levels of it that influence your routine and what control you have over it; your ability to channel stress. As an exercise example; when warming up to begin training, the Sympathetic Nervous System causes the release of noradrenaline and cortisol, furthermore increasing breathing rate, heart rate and lowers the rate of digestion. On the other end of the workout, when stretching and cooling down the Parasympathetic Nervous System is triggered to relieve stress causing the heart rate, breathing rate and digestion to regulate and muscles to relax.
Anyone can become stressed. This can be caused by a variety of lifestyle factors including occupation, education, family, personal issues and much more! Symptoms of stress are completely normal and can come in different forms; emotional symptoms can include feeling overwhelmed, irritable, anxious or lacking in self-esteem, with mental symptoms including racing thoughts, constant worrying, difficulty concentrating or making decisions and even physical symptoms which may include headaches, muscle tension, often feeling tired and eating too much or too little. These symptoms are common and can be due to not enough stress/stimulation just as much as having too much stress.
Hypo-stress is a lack of stress, causing the body to run less efficiently as it is not alert. This can be caused through inactivity or low amounts of challenge and mental stimulation, leading to boredom and restlessness. It can be difficult to become motivated and often results in laziness or poor decision making. Hyper-stress is more than enough stress which can cause snappiness and eventually a mental breakdown. This can be because of being pushed beyond the point of exhaustion or being given too much to handle at one time. Distress is the extreme state of very high stress levels which, if not dealt with, can lead to anxiety, nervousness and low self-esteem; this is not good for mental health if prolonged. For example, trying to set too many goals for yourself that are not realistic will only apply additional stress and will not allow you to work towards them efficiently. Remember; small, rewarding steps add up to the same end result!
Eustress is the optimal amount of stress for an individual. At this level, people are able to work productively and efficiently. This causes a sense of purpose as well as some intrinsic motivation. Individuals are able to channel their daily lives and challenges into their fitness programme, remain alert and work with realistic goals and timeframes to ensure a comfortable balance and keep the whole process moving in the right direction.
The levels of stress in one’s lifestyle will fluctuate a lot and can sometimes be difficult to handle. Tackling stress can be helped by ensuring you get a good amount of sleep each night, being open about any problems or worries with close friends and families as a way to relieve inner concerns and sticking to a routine of regular exercise and eating healthily; this will help reassure yourself that you have positive contributions to your body and that you remain goal-orientated, even outside of working out.
The key pieces of information to remember is that no matter how stressed you feel, you are always in control and can take yourself in any direction you please by making small adjustments to your lifestyle.