Stress is one of the most common health conditions in contemporary society. The vast majority of people living in large cities often live together every year with signs of stress: fatigue, anxiety, insomnia, anorexia, nervousness, etc.
In this article we want you to know better this condition that affects our health so much and, therefore, we will discover the 3 phases of stress and the best methods to combat them.
The 3 different phases of stress:
Stress often manifests in our body in three distinct phases. These are:
– Phase 1: Alarm. This first stage of stress is the one that appears naturally and it is when our body responds to a specific situation that generates stress, fear, or nervousness. The body increases adrenaline which is distributed throughout the body, thus alerting muscles, hearts, joints, etc. In this first phase, it is common to feel that the pulse accelerates and that we are more agitated than normal; this is because the body is alert and attentive to any circumstances.
– Phase 2: Adaptation. Once it passes the first phase of stress, we find the second one known as adaptation. Here, the organism begins to try to adapt to the tension in which it is located and, for this, begins to self-regulate to manage to conform to this new state. We’re still on alert, but the body is more used to it and, therefore, we can start regulating it and relaxing the nerves.
– Phase 3: Exhaustion. We ended up with the third of the stress phases to tell you about last of all, the exhaustion. This happens when stress has become a natural and common state in your life, so it’s chronic stress. Our body is at the limit of its resistance and does not have the resources that it did have in the previous stages, therefore, here is when you can start to generate more serious health problems.
How to Combat Stress?
Different techniques will allow us to combat stress and reduce its presence in our day-to-day lives. Here’s a review of the most effective methods, experts say:
– Learn to delegate. Often, stress comes from an excess burden and responsibility. We must know how to delegate and let ourselves be helped so that we are not overburdened with tasks. This is especially important when you suffer from work stress.
– Exercise. Physical exercise is also known to help reduce stress and anxiety, as when sporting we release hormones such as endorphins that help us feel more pleasure and well-being.
– Change your internal discourse. Try to build a self-discourse that is more positive and constructive. Self-criticism can often be too limiting and cutting. It is best to try to see things in a positive light and not focus on the negative.
– Finally, to combat stress, you must set short-medium-term goals so that you can see your progress. But make sure that the goals are realistic and that you can meet them; otherwise, you will get frustrated.