When the stimulus occurs (in an unusually harsh tone, the boss asks you at his office), there is first a brief period of shock (limp legs, or arm hair bristling), then the body instinctively goes into general mobilization mode. Mainly controlled and regulated by the nervous system and endocrine glands, these chain reaction mechanisms consist of two phases, sometimes three.

The alarm phase. The adrenal glands first release adrenaline and other hormones to make the body respond immediately; thanks to this mechanism, perceptions, muscle strength and reflexes are temporarily increased tenfold. This is the famous ” fight or flight response », A state of great vigilance where it is a question of deciding whether to flee the situation or confront it (in this case, your mind is running at 100 km / hour).

The resistance phase. After a few minutes, several other mechanisms take place – the increase in the level of cholesterol, fatty acids, sugar (blood sugar) and clotting factors in the blood, inhibition of the functioning of white blood cells, etc. – and the body releases new hormones, including endorphins, cortisol, dopamine and serotonin. All of this in order to take the appropriate actions: run three kilometers or knock out the tiger (in this case, you are able to react with all the arguments necessary to the anger of your boss).

Normally these first two phases are beneficial. On the one hand, stress reactions act as a stimulus for the body to mobilize the maximum of its resources and react to the situation. On the other hand, the simple act of going into active mode restores the balance of hormones in the blood. Once the event is settled (your boss is satisfied with the explanations and closes the file), the relaxation reaction is triggered and the body feels fatigue; after a period of rest, the body returns to its usual metabolism.

But if the stressful situation lasts too long without the person being able to resolve it, or if it recurs too often for the person’s abilities, or if the nervous system can no longer put an end to the resistance phase (especially in anxious people), the body sooner or later enters a third phase: the exhaustion phase.

The exhaustion phase. The reaction mechanisms work all the time “at full speed”, leading to a loss of biochemical elements as well as metabolic and physiological disorders. The body becomes exhausted, certain organs or systems weaken or relax. Ultimately, and in extreme situations, continuous stress leads to death. A high level of stress hormones in the blood, even in a “normal” situation, is an indication of the state of stress in which the body is.

Unfortunately, victims of chronic stress are not always aware of their situation, let alone that they are compromising their health. To relieve the discomforts caused by stress, many can adopt compensatory behaviors: increased smoking, alcoholism, drug dependence, excess sleep, isolation … But drinking more alcohol, eating more chocolate, or watching TV more often may temporarily forget about stress, but it does not resolve it. And new problems appear, adding to the burden of stress.

The physiological mechanisms involved in chronic stress are numerous and can contribute to a wide variety of disorders in all systems. Here are the most commonly cited:

Acceleration of aging. Stress increases oxidative damage, which is the aging and death of cells caused by free radicals.

Nutritional deficiency. To produce the energy required by the situation, the body metabolizes nutrients faster, which can result in a lack of amino acids, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, calcium, electrolytes and vitamins. of complex B, among others. In addition, essential nutrients are less well absorbed during times of stress.

Immune deficiency. Cortisol produced in response to stress can cause a weakened immune system, making the body more susceptible to infectious agents, mild or severe, and to different types of cancer. At a very simple level, it is known that stressed people suffer from colds more frequently.¹

Stomach ulcers. Although we now know that most ulcers are caused by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori, stress is a factor that can contribute to the appearance of gastric ulcers and the difficulty in treating them. Stress is also known to play a role in heartburn.

Gynecological problems. Amenorrhea (stopping menstruation) is sometimes seen in stressed women. Also, stressed men and women are more likely to experience periods of infertility.

Mental health problems. It is believed that repeated stress can lead to structural changes in the brain and gradually lead to more severe symptoms: anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, depression, addictions, disorders of the diet (anorexia / bulimia).²

Diseases with a psychosomatic component. The cause of the following diseases is multifactorial and stress can contribute to their exacerbation or their chronicity component: asthma, psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, chronic fatigue syndrome, Crohn’s disease, fibromyalgia, migraine , ulcerative colitis, PMS, obesity, etc.²

Aggravation of diseases. Although stress alone rarely causes serious illness, it is now known that it can play a role in susceptibility to many of these (including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes and cancer), and that it can accelerate its evolution.³