AP32881

1406413854Anatomy of Stress

We’ve all encountered stress also known as panic, anxiety, and mood disorders. These terms are generally considered synonymous. Since we’ve all had [a little] dose of panic. Let’s understand the types of hormones involved; how they’re signaled to release and their effects on the body.

Physiologist, Walter B. Cannon, PhD, Harvard University isolated the hormone adrenalin in the early 1900’s. The name of the hormone adrenalin was derived from the adrenal glands located on top of the kidneys. Cannon also discovered a secondary stress hormone named norepinephrine. (Herbert Benson, 2011)

__The physiology of stress __ Your senses perceive a situation of danger (i.e. //sexual violence//); your brain begins a systematic chemical response. The [|amygdala]section of the brain deals with emotional processing, at the moment the brain senses danger it sends a signal to the [|hypothalamus] to send a chemical messenger corticotropin (or //corticotrophin//) this triggers the adrenaline response. This is a well-timed correlation of chemicals triggering physiologic changes; increase in heart rate, breathing, and blood pressure. If you’ve ever been in a severe accident or traumatic event where time seems to slow way down? This term is called [|Tachypsychia] is a neurological condition that alters the [|perception of time] . Tachypsychia is believed to include numerous physical changes; misinterpretations of surroundings and altered perception of time, as well as transient partial color blindness and tunnel vision. After the irregularly high levels of adrenaline consumed during sympathetic nervous system activation, an individual may display signs and symptoms of [|//post-traumatic stress disorder//]. (Tachypsychia, 2014)

Stress is also implicated in a host of other ailments; //personality __disorders__// and anxiety, chronic lower respiratory diseases, high blood pressure, asthma flare-ups, //phobias// and diabetes.

References

Boyd, D. R. (2012). In D. R. Boyd, //Lifespan Development 6th edition// (p. 348). Boston: Pearson, Allyn and Bacon. Herbert Benson, M. (2011). Lifestyle: Diet, Exercise, Stress, Weight Control. //Harvard Health Publications//, 1. //Tachypsychia. // (2014, June 25). Retrieved from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tachypsychia

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