Health and Happiness
- The way to Wellness
by Arien van der Merwe

"Well-being is more than just an absence of the symptoms of disease. It is an inner peace, happiness and joy. It is usually associated with a deep contentment and certainty of your purpose on earth and the conviction that
while the body is only temporary, the soul lasts forever', (Arien van der Merwe, 2001, pp. 32).

Stress is a reaction to something or someone that is experienced by the individual via the senses of the body. We all need a certain amount of stress to be able to live and survive. We need it to excel in our work or strive towards growth and fulfilment in different fields. Without it, life will become extremely boring. However, we need to balance periods of stress with regular healing phases of rest and relaxation in order to keep our bodies healthy.

Constant, unbalanced, and chronic stress must be avoided as far as possible or at least managed, because this kind of stress, tension and anxiety has probably become the most common and serious problem facing our health and well being in our time.

There are many obstacles, both environmental and internal, that interfere with our needs and complicate our efforts to maintain and balance ourselves. These obstacles place great demands or stress on our bodies. It requires extra effort and a change in ongoing activity to cope with them and to meet their needs. When the stress is excessive, it overtaxes our resources and leads to a breakdown of integrated functioning.

Sources of Stress

Stressful situations can be classified as frustrations, conflicts or pressures.  Frustration results when some obstacle blocks or impedes our progress toward a desired goal. It may be minor, or it may be serious threats to our welfare and may be caused by inner or outer sources.  Conflict between two needs or valued goals in which one has to choose, and which may bring about frustration with regard to the other, is another obstacle causing severe stress. There are many types of conflicts and they are important sources of stress and frequently lead to such inner tension and turmoil that can cause serious bodily harm.  Pressure is yet another obstacle that may complicate our strivings.  Pressures from both inner and outer sources, small or large, may force us to intensify our efforts to such a degree that we may develop severe stress with all sorts of complications manifesting within our bodies.

The human body constantly maintains an internal balance and stability on which we depend for optimal health and well-being. Our bodies respond to stress through a complicated series of biochemical reactions involving all the systems of the body. After a stress reaction, the balance must be restored so that normal bodily functions can continue. If this does not happen, various organs and systems will not function at optimal capacity.

Reactions to Stress

Although modern humans are more advanced intellectually and emotionally our nervous systems are still the same as that of our prehistoric ancestors. If we manage our stress in the correct way, we will be able to utilise and apply the stress reaction for its actual purpose, namely, to ensure survival.

Our brains and nervous systems are not able to distinguish between real physical danger and psychological feeling of danger. The body interprets real and imaginary messages of fear in the same way and the same stress reactions occur. Thoughts in the mind, therefore, can cause a physical stress reaction in the body.

Levels of Stress

Stress may manifest on a biological or a psychological level. Virus infections, for instance, produce stress on a biological level, whereas guilt is a source of psychological stress, where mainly ego defences are involved. Stress may also occur on group as well as individual levels. Situations such as wars and economic depressions are excellent examples.

Severity of Stress

The severity of stress is determined by a number of objective and subjective factors. Prolonged fatigue is more severe stress than temporary fatigue and often stress appears to have a cumulative effect, the longer it lasts the more severe it becomes. A number of stresses at the same time obviously make a large difference to the severity. Other factors such as the strength and equality of the conflicting forces, the individual's evaluation
of the problem and the tolerance factor of the individual will all have a bearing on the severity of the stress levels experienced.

Stress Patterns

No two individuals will face the same stress patterns. We are all different. Each individual's age, sex, personality, occupation, economic status and a host of other factors help to determine the demands made on him/her. Stress patterns also change with time. As the individual enters different life periods, new demands bring forth new stresses.

Positive Stress

Stress is essential to spur us on, to motivate us and to provide the necessary stimulation to cope with the many challenging situations that we have to face from day to day. It also provides us with the sense of urgency and alertness when we are faced with threatening situations.

Negative Stress

Stress is probably the most common cause of ill health in modern society. It can have a harmful effect on mental, physical and spiritual health. It is therefore essential that we manage our stress levels.

The Effect of Stress on the Body

There are basically three types of defence at our disposal - Biological, Psychological and Sociological. Biological defences include the cellular or immunological processes involved in protecting the body against disease. Failure of the biological defences may lead to problems in other areas.  For example, a brain disorder, such as a tumour,  would be likely to result in disturbances in psychological functioning.

Emotional processes can lead to marked physiological changes when the body mobilises its resources to deal with the stress situation. These changes include the secretion of adrenalin which in turn triggers increased muscle tone, the dumping of stored sugar into the blood stream, the speeding up of, or deepening of breathing and increased heart-rate.   There is also the possibility of neutral defences, such as when a person avoids an overwhelming traumatic experience by fainting.

Psychological defences include task-oriented reactions, involving our cognitive abilities to solve problems and gratify needs and ego-defence oriented reactions, involving numerous ego defence mechanisms, largely unconscious devices by which we protect ourselves self from hurt.

All of these stress-related reactions cause a subjective perception or awareness, which is transmitted to the higher centres in the brain cortex.  From the hypothalamus, pituitary gland and brain stem, messages are transmitted by neurotransmitters in the nervous system and hormones in the blood to the sympathetic part of the nervous system where stress causes a racing heart, shortness of breath and increased metabolism. The adrenal glands are activated to secrete the stress hormones - cortisol, adrenalin and noradrenaline. These important hormones cause high blood sugar levels and increased metabolism, faster heart beat, stimulation of the bladder wall and stimulate the skin to perspire more in order to bring down the high temperature caused by the increase in metabolism, and at the same time the urogenital, digestive and immune systems are suppressed because these systems are not needed in the stress reaction. The thyroid gland secretes thyroid hormones, which in turn stimulate the metabolism.

The whole endocrine system, represented by the hormones in the blood, actively controls the activities of all the organs during stress. The cardiovascular system, including the heart, lungs and blood vessels, have to work hard to ensure that every cell is supplied with enough oxygen and blood sugar to provide energy. The muscles, joints and ligaments of the musculo-skeletal system are all ready for the "fight or flight" response. The
kidneys and bladder actively form more concentrated urine and excrete it. The liver and pancreas must ensure that there is enough blood sugar to provide energy for all these processes taking place.

The skin has a two-fold involvement in the stress reaction, the increased metabolism stimulates it to excrete more sweat to prevent the body from overheating, while simultaneously, the blood is re-routed from the skin to the more vital stress systems such as the heart, lungs and muscles. The skin gets less blood during the stress reaction and waste products can easily accumulate.  The blood supply to the digestive tract is reduced as the digestive process is not immediately essential to the stress reaction.

So we can see that the whole body is involved in the stress reaction and why uncontrolled stress or stress that is not managed properly has been identified as the underlying catalyst behind many diseases of our time.

The human body evolved to react to situations of danger but in modern life we have to cope with other types of stress and the flood of bio-chemicals released during these stressful situations.  Sometimes these are not completely used up, leading to cellular damage and system-wide depletion of the body's natural defence resources.   While the nervous system and digestive organs are particularly susceptible to the effects of stress, research has linked stress with a host of medical concerns.

Stress Symptoms

A variety of stress related symptoms may be experienced.  This will vary from person to person.  They include mental and emotional symptoms such as confusion, difficulty in decision making, panic attacks, inability to concentrate, short term memory loss, disorientation, depression, irritability, tearfulness, fits of rage and deterioration of personal appearance and hygiene, avoiding social contact.

Physical symptoms may include fatigue, bodily aches and pains, recurring infections, insomnia, digestive problems, headaches, loss of sexual desires, a reduced feeling of general well-being, accelerated ageing and systems failure.

Some Stress-related Illnesses

Stress is a significant contributory factor to Cardiovascular Disease. All people suffering from stress related abnormalities should examine their lifestyle and compile a list of priorities. One can recover from life-threatening cardiovascular disease by adopting a holistic approach to health.

Diabetes is another serious disorder that can develop due to stress. The release of adrenal hormones under stress can have a significant impact on blood sugar levels. Large amounts of cortisol, secreted by the adrenals during stressful situations and acting to reduce metabolism of glucose by the cells, decrease insulin sensitivity. Prolonged high sugar levels can have detrimental effects on the body and will eventually lead to diabetes.

An overactive, or under active, thyroid and an imbalance in the adrenal glands can contribute to a Weakened Immune System, leading to chronic infections or even cancer. The secretion of insulin by the pancreas can be disrupted and can lead to hypoglycaemia or diabetes, or in people who already have diabetes; it can aggravate the situation or cause it to become uncontrollable.

Excessive stress over long periods will also damage the thymus gland, the manufacturer of white blood cells that regulate our immunity. Due to the stress situation, the hormones secreted by the adrenals will cause the thymus to shrink and less white cells will be available to fight of damaging invaders. High stress can thus result in reduced functioning of the immune system.

Over stimulation of the kidneys and bladder can lead to symptoms such as, incontinence, infections, low libido, severe menopausal problems, and even infertility.  In the past high blood pressure, cancer, chronic fatigue syndrome, high cholesterol, and similar ailments were not nearly as common as they are today.  One reason may be that in modern life we have to face relentless mental stress, fast technology changes as well as the use of cellular phones, the internet, laptops and other electronic devices which bombard us with irradiation.

Other disorders that are directly related to stress include asthma, digestive disorders, ulcers, depression, pre-menstrual syndrome, headaches, skin problems, high blood pressure, menstrual disorders, migraine, and auto-immune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, cancer, colds, spastic colon and a considerable amount of psychological wear and tear.

"It appears that defensive resources of the system are limited and that if they are mobilised against one stress, they are not available for coping with others", (James C. Coleman, 1964 pp. 93)

"To cope with stress, your body has to keep the right balance in the chemicals of communications whose job is to keep you 'well tuned' and functioning at peak level", (Patrick Holford, 1999, pp 7).

It is often advisable to take supplements together with a balanced diet when under stress. Vitamins, minerals, amino acids and essential fatty acids are essential for optimum health and proper functioning of the body-mind-emotions-spirit unit. They support and strengthen the systems of the body so that the metabolism functions optimally. When under stress we tend to eat less or irregularly and the body becomes depleted and add to the stress burden on the body. Vitamin and mineral deficiency can cause internal stress.

"One could possibly believe that an increased number of external factors cause depression, such as being bombarded by bad news through the media, work and mental stress, financial problems and complicated interrelationships of different sorts. Though these undoubtedly play a role, it is becoming abundantly clear that psycho-chemistry (the effect of body chemical substances on the mood) is of fundamental importance" (Louis de Villiers, 1998, pp 153).

One could almost describe stress as a primitive reaction in modern society. The reaction is still the same as during simpler times, although the difference is that prehistoric humans had an immediate physical outlet; so the reaction was short lived, fortunately we are today intellectually advanced enough to know how to control our thoughts and emotions.

In Conclusion

Stress is very personal, but it is also a sociological and corporate problem. Many working hours are lost due to illness related to stress. Anyone who is faced with important changes or new demands may be at risk from stress and stress related disorders. It affects the whole person and symptoms can take many forms. Unmanaged stress over time can be very detrimental to one's health. If one recognises the symptoms, the next step is to try and become aware of the causes and seek help.

There are many therapies today that one can choose from and it may take a while to find the right one, but fortunately help is just around the corner and the best would be to find it sooner, rather than too late.

Bibliography

Louis S. de Villiers , A Blueprint for Better Health, 1998,
Human & Rousseau (PTY) Ltd, State House, 3-9 Rose Street, Cape Town, South Africa

James C. Coleman, Abnormal Psychology and Modern Life, 3rd Edition, 1964,
Scott, Foresman and Company, Glenview, Illinois, USA

Patrick Holford, Beat Stress and Fatigue, 1999,
Judy Piatkus (publishers) Ltd, 5 Windmill Street, London, England

Arien van der Merwe, Health and Happiness - The way to Wellness, 2002,
Tafelberg Publishers, 28 Wale Street, Cape Town, South Africa