The only thing that doesn't change is that everything changes.

The Psychology of Stress

by Keith Sonnanburg, Ph.D.

Clinical Psychologist


Stress is a widely acknowledged facet of modern life. Most people recognize its energy-draining and health-eroding effects. Many find themselves nearly overwhelmed. Common remedies like exercise, taking drugs, going away on vacation, pampering yourself, asking for help, or quiet retreat all may offer some relief (if only temporary). Yet a more exact understanding of the nature of stress and how it affects human functioning can lead to a more general and long-lasting management of stress.

It is helpful to distinguish between "stressors" and the "stress" response. Stressors are events and circumstances which demand a change of response (e.g., interpersonal conflict, personal loss, disease, crowding, noise, social isolation, job requirements, change in residence, etc.). Stress is the body's response to such environmental influences (e.g., rapid heart beat, vascular constriction, gastric distress, intestinal problems, muscular tension, sleep disturbance, excessive sweating, headaches, hives, rashes, confusion, distraction, slow metabolism, vulnerability to disease, etc.).

The primary pathways involved in converting stressors on the body into symptoms are: the nervous system (notably the brain, the autonomic nerves, and the somatic nerves), the endocrine system (especially the pituitary gland and the adrenal glands), the immune system (including the lymph nodes and certain cells in the blood), and behaviors (whether health-enhancing or self-destructive). Widespread chemicals in the body (like neurotransmitters or neuropeptides) are also involved with translating environmental conditions into bodily responses.

We vary in our responses to stressors. Such differences depend on the biological strengths and weaknesses of your own body, and on your history of adapting to the demands and joys of life. Stress responses may vary over time. Diverse systems in the body may be involved. Some approaches to stress management are targeted to ease the particular bodily responses, while others offer more general techniques designed to minimize the impact of any stressors.


Copyright © Keith Sonnanburg, 1995
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