Stress is an inevitable part of our lives, it can be a motivator or a burden. What impact does stress have on our physical and mental health? How do we cope with stress? Will stress be passed on to the next generation? This article will reveal the secret of stress to you from a scientific perspective.
Stressors and Stress Responses Stressors are events, things, or even thoughts that can cause a stress response. Stressors can be challenging experiences, such as your first day at a new job, an important presentation, a grant application, or an exciting Formula One race. Stress response, on the other hand, is your physical and mental response to these stressors. During a stress response, the brain releases a series of hormones (including adrenaline and cortisol) that affect a person’s body and mind. These hormones enable an individual to respond to stressors; this is often referred to as the ‘fight or flight response.’
Characteristics and individual differences of stressors Research shows that stressors have some inherent characteristics. Situations that are uncontrollable, cognitively challenging, or painful can trigger an intense stress response. Being judged by society or receiving negative feedback can also increase stress levels. However, there are large individual differences in the perception of potential stressors. Some people see dangerous or complex tasks as challenges, while others see them as threats. When we feel challenged, we believe there is or is likely to be a good outcome. And when we feel threatened, we feel fear or anxiety about what is about to happen. These individual differences may be due to differences in tolerance of uncertainty, with some people being more confident in their abilities than others. Practical skills, knowledge, and past life experiences can also shape our perceptions of specific events or circumstances and determine our coping abilities, that is, how we respond to stressors.
Coping Strategies and Effects of Stress Coping strategies include the ability to accept the situation, refocus on the negative, envision the worst possible outcome, and reflect on past events. The choice and effectiveness of coping strategies depend on the nature of the stressor and the characteristics of the individual. Some coping strategies may be effective in some situations but ineffective or harmful in others. For example, envisioning the worst possible outcome may increase anxiety, while ruminating on past events may lead to self-blame or depression. Therefore, we need to flexibly use different coping strategies based on different stressors and our own emotional states. In summary, while the stress response is intended to prepare the body and mind for daily challenges or dangerous situations and can therefore be considered a ‘good’ thing, chronic experiences of stress can have ‘bad’ effects both mentally and physically . When the stress system is chronically activated, its internal feedback system is hindered, causing the stress system to become overactive, which in turn can lead to severe dysregulation of the system in the long term. Dysregulation of this stress system is associated with changes in specific areas of the brain (such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex) and changes in the immune system, increasing mental illness (such as anxiety and depression) and physical illness (such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune disease). immune diseases).
The Genetics and Epigenetics of Stress Interestingly, scientists have discovered that the effects of chronic or traumatic stress can even be ‘read’ in genes. The biosignature of stress can be found at what is called the epigenetic level. Epigenetics refers to mechanisms that influence gene activity without changing the genetic code itself. Methylation is one such epigenetic mechanism. Severe stress has been found to alter methylation levels, altering the activity of stress-related genes as well as genes involved in the immune system and neuronal growth. It is thought that sensitivity to stress can be passed not only through interactions between parents and children, but also through epigenetic changes. These changes may prepare offspring for future stressors and thus may be considered an adaptive mechanism. However, whether the next generation requires such changes in the epigenome and associated stress systems (i.e., for good or bad) depends on the environment in which the new generation develops.
Conclusion Stress is a double-edged sword. It can stimulate our potential and also damage our health. We need to understand the principles of stress, recognize the sources of stress, master the response to stress, and protect future generations of stress. Let us look at the good and bad aspects of stress from a scientific perspective.
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