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3 CCHSA Safety Resource What is stress? Stress can be difficult to define as people experience stress differently. Negative events do not always lead to stress, and positive events are not necessarily stress-free. Simply, stress is the disruption of the body's homeostasis (i.e. ideal bodily function). Stress is the human response to change that is perceived as a challenge or a threat; it is a natural occurrence in life. However, too much stress can be harmful to the body, especially over a long period. Is all stress bad? A small amount of stress can be good for people as it makes us more alert and gives us a boost of adrenaline. Just enough stress can motivate people to accomplish tasks. This good stress is referred to as eustress. An example of eustress on the farm may be the motivation to make it through the busy seeding or harvest season. Harmful stress A build-up of tension without the opportunity to recover can lead to harmful stress. Bad stress is when events make us feel uncomfortable and not in control, leading to poor concentration, poor decision-making and deteriorating relationships. The main problem with stress is feeling overwhelmed by too many demands resulting in loss of confidence in our ability to cope. HOW STRESS WORKS Stress is part of daily life as it is a result of both the good and bad things that happen. When you find an event stressful, your body undergoes a series of responses. Health Canada describes these responses in 3 stages: Mobilizing Energy: Your body releases adrenaline, your heart beats faster and you breathe faster. Both good and bad events can trigger this surge of energy and strength. You may feel like "butterflies" are in your stomach. Some also experience indigestion, no appetite, and feelings of light-headed or dizzy. Consuming Energy Stores: When your body remains in the "mobilizing energy" stage for a period of time, it releases stored sugars and fats. You will then feel driven, pressured and tired. You may experience anxiety, negative thinking or memory loss, catch a cold or get the flu more often than normal as your immunity is compromised. You may increase unhealthy habits such as eating more food, drinking more coffee, drinking more alcohol and smoking. Draining Energy Stores: If you are unable to decrease your stress levels, your body's need for energy will become greater than its ability to provide it. At this stage, you may experience insomnia, errors in judgment and personality changes. Draining energy stores can lead to serious illness such as heart disease, high blood pressures, stroke or be at risk of mental illness such as depression. Side note: Evolution of stress Stress has evolved over the years. Back in primitive years, stress was more physical than psychological and was short term in duration. For instance, say an early human was out gathering food to eat when all of a sudden a predator such as a lion approaches. Stress enabled the body to quickly react, sprinting away from the lion. After escaping, the body would then go into recovery mode, bringing the body back to its homeostasis. While we aren't running away from predators anymore, our busy lifestyle has put a constant strain on our body and mind. Stress has become more chronic and long term as a result of this transition.

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