What is stress?

       The American Institute of Stress defines stress as "physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension" and "a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize." Everyone experiences and perceives stress differently. It might motivate some while wreaking havoc for others. According to the American Psychological Association (2017), seventy-seven percent of people regularly experience physical symptoms caused by stress. People are suffering from fatigue, headaches, upset stomachs, muscle tension, and more due to high levels of stress.

       In 1936, Hans Selye developed the General Adaptation Syndrome which describes the stages we go through when experiencing stress (National Center for Biotechnology Information, 2014). The first stage is the alarm stage- the body's defensive forces are being mobilized; the second stage is the stage of resistance- the body is adapting to the challenge and begins to resist it; the last stage is the exhaustion phase- the body's resources have been depleted (The American Institute of Stress, n.d.). This last stage can leave our body vulnerable to diseases and be very dangerous. 

       So what can we do to combat all of this stress? We will review how exercise, nutrition, relaxation, and a positive mind can contribute to reduced stress levels. 

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