The process through which the body responds to either acute or chronic stress is called allostasis. When one feels threatened due to acute stress, the reaction that happens is called flight or fight. The reaction or response leads to the release of the stress hormone called cortisol into the bloodstream. As one's body perceives stress, the adrenal gland produces and releases hormonal cortisol into the bloodstream. Chronic or long-term stress makes one continuously feel under attack, and in such a case, cortisol hormone is secreted continuously to help in flight or fight reaction (Fancourt et al., 2015). Overexposure of the body to prolonged stress hormone has been associated with various health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, insulin resistance, and psychiatric disorders.
Long-term stress has adverse effects on the endocrine system and body in general. On the endocrine system, it leads to impaired communication between hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axes. When one experiences continuous cases of stress, the brain initiates the production of glucocorticoids, which is a stress hormone. The hormone is useful in the reduction of inflammation and regulation of the immune system caused by stress. However, due to overproduction in an attempt to regulate stress, it leads to impaired communication with various endocrine systems involved in stress response (Fancourt et al., 2015). Impaired communication and prolonged stress result in mental and physical health conditions of the body, such as chronic fatigue, immune disorders, depression, and metabolic disorders such as obesity.
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Stress management requires effective strategies either through the application of a psychological or spiritual point of view. The spiritual strategies such as meditation and prayer can help focus one's thoughts, which is essential in finding peace of mind. One can also utilize psychological stress management techniques such as emotional disclosure to handle the problem. The mechanism involves expressing negative emotions through writing or talking, which helps in easing on burden caused by anxiety.
Reference
Fancourt, D., Aufegger, L., & Williamon, A. (2015). Low-stress and high-stress singing have contrasting effects on glucocorticoid response. Frontiers in Psychology , 6 , 1242. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01242
