Stress

STRESS SERIES 5 : STRESS IN EARLY LIFE

The body’s natural response to a stressful situation is to increase the heart rate and blood pressure, by initially releasing adrenalin to prime the body for immediate action, followed by the release of the stress hormone cortisol.  A highly stressful event activates

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STRESS SERIES 4 – STRESS IN THE WORKPLACE

Stress is not a disease, but prolonged exposure to intensive work-related pressure can reduce effectiveness at work, and affect people’s physical and psychological health.   Research has shown that the work environment is a major – and in many cases the primary –

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STRESS SERIES 3 – STRESS RELIEVING METHODS

The body’s initial reaction to a crisis or threatening situation is to activate the “fight or flight” stress response, in which the sympathetic nervous system primes the body to take either confrontational or avoidance action.  In facing an emergency, the body releases

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STRESS SERIES 2 : STRESS RESILIENCE

The power of the mind is of extreme importance when dealing with high levels of stress.  Instead of succumbing to the dire effects of stress, the mind can be conditioned to channel stress into a positive experience. The general perception that stress

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STRESS SERIES 1 – THE STRESS RESPONSE

When faced with stressful situations, the body develops a stress response, which involves interaction between different body systems to cope with the stressors.  The stress response starts in the brain, where cognitive appraisal of perceived threats and stressors in the environment is

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Fight or flight: The physiology of stress

During the Oscar Pistorius trial an individual’s reaction when faced with perceived danger formed part of the defence team’s legal argument.  The “fight or flight” response to danger created much public interest at the time.  But what really happens in the body

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