Page 27 - The Brain Health Guide

THE BRAIN HEALTH GUIDE
tress affects people in many different ways. It often creeps up
Swhen we feel overwhelmed or feel pressured to accomplish
something in a short amount of time.
Stress triggers an alarm in the brain, telling our bodies that
something is wrong. The “fight or flight” response calls in
the nervous system to respond and hormones to be released,
jolting the body into action. Muscles become tense, breathing
increases and pulse rates quicken.
Heightening the senses during a crisis is essential to survival.
This is a natural and important biological response. The body
is designed for short bursts of activity in response to stress or
danger, but the ongoing nature of daily stress often means that
the system is left “on” to respond.

Recognize that you can learn how to lead a less stressful life.
Recognize too, that when you alleviate the stress, it can help
you live a longer, healthier life.

Most of us worry about things that make us feel stressed, but
some people spend an excessive amount of time worrying
about tomorrow. Someone once said, “Don’t tell me that worry
isn’t good for you. I know better. The things I worry about
don’t happen.”
Many chronic worriers probably wish they could change the
way they view the world, but they simply don’t know how to
stop worrisome thoughts.

Stress Signals
Stress reactions vary from person to person, and can involve
mental, physical or behavioral changes. Headaches and fatigue
are common signals that the body is over-worked.

While you may have a mild headache due to stress, another
person’s headache may be so uncomfortable they have difficulty
concentrating. A stress-related headache may also mean you
have tight muscles or have difficulty sleeping.

Some people experience a combination of stress signals making

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