Mental and Emotional Health Topics
Stages of Stress
Alarm:
- The first stage of stress
- Body goes in high alert
- Fight-or-flight response
- Hypothalamus
Hypothalamus
- A small area of the brain at base
- Receives danger signals
- Releases hormones that act off pituitary gland (part of the brain that senses stress)
Resistance:
- Second stage of stress
- Adapting to stressful situations
- Getting used to stress
- Performing at a higher level of endurance
Fatigue:
- Final stage of stress
- Caused by prolonged stress
- Lose ability to adapt to stressful situations
- Body tires
- Adrenaline kicks in- "emergency hormone"
Physical Symptoms
- dilated pupils
- increased sweating
- faster pulse
- raised blood pressure
- muscle tension
Managing Stress - Brainsmart - BBC