Buzzell 1

Alexis Buzzell

Dr. Cassel

English Composition II

28 March 2021

Stress: How is it Affecting Us?

Among people of all ages, genders, and ethnicities, stress is a significant factor

in daily life. Studies have found that thirty-three percent of people have reported feeling

extreme levels of stress within their lives. Seventy-seven percent of people state that

their stress has affected their health physically, and seventy-three percent of

participants found that stress impacts their mental health. Studies concluded that

120,000 Americans die every year from work-related stress. Why does this happen?

How does stress influence the human body so drastically that it leads thousands to their

deaths every year? Stress has many effects on the physical state of the human body

that leads to changes in the person's mental state; however, there are many ways to

manage copious amounts of stress.

In the 1920s, the term “stress” was coined by endocrinologist Hans Selye,

otherwise known as the Founder of Stress Theory. Selye first became interested in the

idea of biological stress at the University of Prague Medical School. He noticed that

patients had often shared the same symptoms of loss of appetite, weight, and

motivation- all of which professionals ignored. At the time, he called it the “syndrome of

just being sick,” but he would later research this phenomenon in his future years of

study (Tan, S.Y., & Yip A.). Selye proposed that stress was caused by irregular body

functions, calling it a non-specific strain on the human body. Selye founded the General
 Buzzell 2

Adaptation Syndrome, later deemed Selye’s Syndrome, which grouped the reactants

from stress into three different stages: “the alarm reaction, the stage of resistance, and

the stage of exhaustion” (Tan, S.Y., & Yip A.). Selye was the first individual to research

how stress impacted human health, but his discoveries struggled to gain support.

However, John Mason, a physician at Yale University, conducted an experiment in

which he studied the effects of responses of food-deprived monkeys to analyze

stressors. He concluded that the consequences of psychological stress were as

powerful as physical stress when enacting the body’s stress response (McEwen, Bruce,

et al.). Over time, more scientists conducted experiments that furthered Hans Selye’s

initial discoveries of stress and its physiological effects on the human body.

As found in Radhika Kapur’s case study, “Stress Management- A Case Study,”

there are four fundamental sources of stressors for the average person. The four

sources include environmental stressors, social stressors, physiological stressors, and

thoughts. The environment an individual is in can initiate stress in their daily lives. Some

occurrences that are potential stressors for individuals may include crime rates. If a

stressed man or woman lives in a dangerous area where crime rates are high, they are

likely to feel stressed in their environment. Another environmental stressor is traffic.

Those who are late to an important meeting may feel stressed at the presence of slow

moving vehicles or recurring red lights. Loud noises caused by unknown sources could

cause an individual to wonder where the noise came from, thus giving them stress.

Finally, crowded areas are likely to cause those with social anxiety to become stressed

if they do not recognize those around them. (Kapur). A study titled “Why So Stressed?”

was published in 2021. It observed the effects of the work environment on nurses. The
 Buzzell 3

study concluded that “hospital nurses are at higher risk of having stressors and stress

as compared to non-hospital nurses” (Robat, Muhamad, et al). Social stressors are

essentially caused by peer pressure and social roles. An individual’s social status, “such

as a parent, spouse, caregiver, and an employee” may force responsibilities that are

stressful to him or her (Kapur). A parent may feel stressed to make sure that their child

is healthy and is eating enough food before soccer practice. A spouse may worry about

their significant other’s well-being and if their spouse is satisfied with their marriage. A

caregiver might forget to give one of his or her patients the correct medication, thus

causing the caregiver stress. Finally, an employee may feel stressed about an

impending dead-line that he or she has yet to meet. As described in “Stress

Management- A Case Study,” Physiological stressors include any scenario in which an

individual’s physical and mental state are affected. These stressors include health

problems that arise from various incidents, illnesses, eating disorders or lack of

nutrition, and many more (Kapur). A teenage girl could be involved in a car accident,

causing her physical and mental trauma for coming years. Mental illnesses, such as

depression, are likely to affect the patient's physical state through physiological

responses. Finally, eating disorders are caused by mental illness; however, any lack of

nutrition could cause an individual to see changes in their physical health as a result.

Physiological stressors are primarily induced by someone's physical state or frame of

mind. Unlike social and environmental stressors, however, physiological stressors are

more easily treated by the individual through counseling sessions, hospital visits, or

other treatments. Finally, one’s thoughts can be a considerable stressor. How someone

distinguishes a stressful situation will determine how much stress they experience and
 Buzzell 4

whether the strain is positive or negative. The brain will first perceive a situation as

stressful or unpleasant, and the way the individual responds with his or her thoughts

and reactions will determine its outcome (Kapur). The stressors caused by day-to-day

life will affect an individual's body both physically and mentally.

The effects that stressors have on the human body will cause the physicality of it

to react in various ways. A review titled “Stress and Health: Psychological, Behavioral,

and Biological Determinants” was conducted at the University of Miami. Writers Neil

Schneiderman, Gail Ironson, and Scott D. Siegel came to many conclusions regarding

the connections between stress and the human body. Stress hormones produced in the

brain promote lipolysis. “Lipolysis is the process of breaking down fats into usable

sources of energy” (Schneiderman, Neil, et a.l). This energy is distributed to various

organs that would need it most under copious amounts of stress. This process

increases blood pressure levels and contracts and dilates blood vessels in the stressed

individual. Elevated blood pressure compels the heart to pump more blood through the

body at an escalated rate. If sustained for long periods, this would eventually lead to

damaged arteries and plaque formation within the stressed individual (Schneiderman,

Neil, et al.). Additionally, increased levels of stress are connected to an overactive

immune system. The human immune system witnesses stress as any other wound.

Therefore, immune cells will work to heal undue amounts of stress in the human body.

Since there is no physical wound that can be contrived by mental stress, the immune

system is expelling energy onto an injury that does not exist. This process weakens the

immune system, thus making the stressed individual more prone to disease
 Buzzell 5

(Schneiderman, Neil, et al.). Those experiencing high amounts of stress can experience

physical changes in more than just their physical being.

Chronic stress can cause physical changes to an individual’s brain. A review

written by Habib Yaribeygi, Yunes Panahi, Hedayat Sahraei, Thomas P. Johnston, and

Amirhossein Sahebkar drew conclusions on the effects of stress on the human brain.

The review found “that stress can cause functional and structural changes in the

hippocampus section of the brain” (Yaribeygi, Habib, et al). The hippocampus could

experience a reduction in size, an increase of plasma cortisol, a decrease in dendritic

branches, changes in the number of neurons, fluctuations of synaptic terminals, and

deterioration of tissue from high levels of stress (Yaribeygi, Habib, et al). The physical

changes in the brain caused by stress may lead to mental disorders within the stressed

individual.

The physical damage caused to the hippocampus from stress can lead to mental

disorders for the stressed individual. According to “The Impact of Stress on Body

Function: A Review,” The hippocampus is responsible for converting short term

memories into long-term memories, which directly affects how an individual remembers

and perceives certain events. (Yaribeygi, Habib, et al). Therefore, any damage to the

hippocampus will directly affect how well a stressed individual will remember a certain

event. The presence of high-stress hormones causes memory disorders. Reduction of

size in the hippocampus can lead to weak verbal memory. High plasma concentrations

of glucocorticosteroids can cause problems with explicit memory (Yaribeygi, Habib, et

al). Stress can also negatively impact one’s learning. When an individual is learning a

new topic, the information is primarily hippocampus-dependent. Since stress damages

 Buzzell 6

the hippocampus region of the brain, it is more demanding to remember newly-learned

material. Contrarily, stress can improve memory in some circumstances. When an

individual endures a non-familiar, non-predictable, possibly life-threatening event, their

memory undergoes stimulation (Yaribeygi, Habib, et al). This stimulation is responsible

for improving one’s memory when he or she experiences this type of event. It was

determined that “the process of strengthening memory is usually reinforced after stress”

(Yaribeygi, Habib, et al). A study conducted on animal and human participants showed

that the injection of glucocorticosteroids (a stress hormone) after learning a new topic

increases the probability that the information will be remembered (Yaribeygi, Habib, et

al). The effects of stress on a person’s memory coincide with the influence on the

person’s behavior.

Fig. 1 shows

where the hippocampus is located in the brain (“Know Your Brain: Hippocampus”).
 Buzzell 7

Stress impacts the emotions and moods of a stressed individual. Those

experiencing high levels of stress may experience “aggressiveness, irritation, anger,

sadness, misery, annoyance, frustration, impatience, and worry” (Kapur). However, if

the individual is experiencing positive stress, they may seem more calm, composed,

and peaceful than before he or she experienced stress. The moods of a stressed

individual may fluctuate as well. Stress can have many effects on the individual's moods

and emotions. For example, those experiencing high amounts of stress may feel

anxious when trying to make certain deadlines. Many often feel nervous when under the

stress of having to perform well at their job. Being under a copious amount of stress

may force the individual to feel irritable and he or she may lash out at their loved ones

and those around them. Finally, those who are suffering from stress tend to panic when

a situation is not occurring in the way they might have expected. (Kapur). These moods

are caused by changes in the physiological state of the stressed individual. Depending

on how one perceives their stress, the attitude and behaviors of said individual will be

positive or negative. Those susceptible to stress should know how to manage and treat

their behaviors and emotions.

The type of treatment someone needs to treat their stress depends on how

severe the strain is to their mental state. For those experiencing non-chronic levels of

stress, it is easiest to find treatment through him or herself. Some examples of stress

management include setting priorities, facing stressful moments, studying expectations,

living a healthy lifestyle, learning to embrace change, and creating social networks

(Kapur). Mindfulness has also been proven to improve the lifestyles of those suffering

from high levels of stress. Activities such as yoga meditation help stressed individuals
 Buzzell 8

focus on maintaining a positive attitude through challenging times. They also help

individuals practice how to manage negative thoughts so they do not lead to more

stressful situations. Even simple actions such as drawing, taking a walk, exercising, and

reading more often have led to an increase in mindfulness for those experiencing

copious amounts of stress. Drawing allows those who suffer from an abundance of

stress to get their thoughts onto a sheet of paper; this allows him or her to organize their

thoughts and possibly feel less overwhelmed. Taking a walk and other types of

exercises have been found to decrease stress hormones in the body (such as cortisol

and adrenaline). Exercise also increases the amount of endorphins in the human brain.

These chemicals are responsible for when an individual feels a state of optimism,

positivity, and relaxation (“Exercising to Relax”). Finally, reading more regularly can help

reduce stress, as it acts as a distraction to readers' daily stressors. A study conducted

by the University of Sussex discovered that study participants who read regularly had a

68% reduction in their daily stress (“Reading for Stress Relief”).

Disorders caused by chronic levels of stress, such as Post Traumatic Stress

Disorder, major depression, and anxiety, are treated with professional techniques such

as Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is used to adapt the

thinking patterns of the patients through various methods. According to an article written

for the American Psychological Association, some methods may include gaining an

understanding of others, improving various skills, gaining more confidence and many

others (“What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?”). Cognitive-behavioral therapy

therapists also aim to improve the behavioral patterns of the patients through methods

of learning about their worst fears and why they might be afraid of such things.
 Buzzell 9

Therapists might achieve this by making their patient participate in a role playing activity

(“What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?”). This would prepare their clients for any

potentially problematic occurrences within their daily lives. Cognitive-behavioral therapy

also helps patients to calm their minds and body through various relaxation exercises,

thus allowing their clients to feel more in the moment and accept their feelings and

emotions (“What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?”). Since the creation of Cognitive

Behavioral Therapy in the 1960s, it has been utilized in treating many forms of mental

illness. Anyone experiencing major depression could seek treatment with

Cognitive-behavioral therapy; however many patients have found that interpersonal

therapy is also a useful form of treatment. Anxiety is treated through different methods

depending on which type of strain the individual is undergoing. However,

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is commonly used to treat most types of anxiety

(Schneiderman, Neil, et al). Some management strategies may not be effective for

everyone who is seeking help for their disorders; the stressed individual needs to seek

help through the treatment that is best suited for him or her.

An example of someone suffering with a high amount of stress is told within the

article “Katie’s Story: Recovering from Panic Attacks, Anxiety and Depression.” In the

article, Katie explains her journey through her various mental illnesses. She recalls that

when she first began to feel stressed, it took her a long time to notice that she was more

stressed than she could handle. After her stress began to accumulate so much to a

point where she could no longer function, she had a severe panic attack while she

simply replied to emails. Katie explained this feeling as “it was like I just couldn’t cope

anymore with anything. I didn’t know I was having a panic attack at the time, all I
 Buzzell 10

remember feeling like I was going to die” (Katie). After this incident, Katie scheduled an

appointment with a counselor. This service taught her various coping methods to help

Katie recover and manage her high levels of stress. Although it took years for Katie to

experience results from her counselling, she eventually found a way to handle her

mental illness and find positivity in her life again (Katie). This story of redemption shows

that stress can be managed through various techniques. Recovery takes time and

effort; however, Katie proved that the hard work is beneficial as a conclusion.

There are many consequences of stress that impact the human body both

physically and mentally. Whether the stressed individual is strained by their

environment, their peers, or their thoughts, the impacts he or she experiences can be

harmful to their health. Energy distributed to the organs can cause blood pressure to

increase. This increase will cause the human heart to work harder to ensure enough

blood is traveling through the body. Heart conditions, strokes, and other health problems

are likely to arise from this issue. Changes throughout the brain have a direct correlation

to high amounts of stress. The hippocampus has a direct impact on memory. Many

memory disorders can surface from the influence stress has on the human brain.

Stressed individuals have more irritable moods and emotions. Those who experience

high levels of stress should seek help to find the best methods of treatment. Some may

find that practicing mindfulness, through activities like yoga and meditation, or

participating in simpler distractions such as exercising or reading are the best suited

treatment for their stress. However, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is also an effective

treatment for the many mental illnesses copious amounts of stress can cause. The
 Buzzell 11

effects of stress can still be life-threatening to any individual, however. It is critical to

understand how to manage stress so those that experience it can live a healthier life.
 Buzzell 12

Work Cited

“Exercising to Relax.” Harvard Health Publishing: Harvard Medical School, Feb. 2011,

https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/exercising-to-relax. Accessed 11

Apr. 2021.

Kapur, Radhika. “Stress Management- A Case Study.” ResearchGate, Mar. 2018,

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/323825207_Stress_Management_-_A_

Case_Study. Accessed Mar. 3 2021.

Katie. “Katie’s Story: Recovering from Panic Attacks, Anxiety and Depression.

Mental Health Foundation,

https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/stories/katies-story-recovering-panic-attacks-anx

iety-and-depression. Accessed 11 Apr. 2021.

“Know Your Brain: Hippocampus.” Neuroscientifically Challenged, 26 May 2014,

https://www.neuroscientificallychallenged.com/blog/2014/5/23/know-your-brain-hi

ppocampus. Accessed 31 Mar. 2021.

McEwen, Bruce, et al. “The Brain on Stress: Insight from Studies Using the Visible

Burrow System.” NCBI, 1 Jul. 2016,

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4777966/. Accessed 24 Mar.

2021.

“Reading for Stress Relief.” University of Minnesota,

https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/reading-stress-relief#:~:text=Simply%20b

y%20opening%20a%20book,stress%20by%20up%20to%2068%25. Accessed

11 Apr. 2021.
 Buzzell 13

Robat, Muhamad, et al. “Why so Stressed? A Comparative Study on Stressors and

Stress Between Hospital and Non-Hospital Nurses.” BMC Nursing, 4 Jan. 2021,

file:///home/chronos/u-aee094540bdd78515fdd935e759b5472cfb660c2/MyFiles/

Downloads/why%20so%20stressed. Accessed 15 Mar. 2021.

Schneiderman, Neil, et al. “Stress and Health: Psychological, Behavioral, and Biological

Determinants.” NCBI, 2005,

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2568977/. Accessed 3 Mar. 2021.

Tan, S.Y., & Yip A. “Hans Sely (1907-1982): Founder of the Stress Theory.” NCBI, Apr.

2018, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5915631/. Accessed 24

Mar. 2021.

“What is Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?” American Psychology Association, Jul. 2017,

https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/cognitive-behavioral.

Accessed Mar. 31 2021.

Yaribeygi, Habib, et al. “The Impact of Stress on Body Function: A Review.” EXCLI

Journal, 21 Jul. 2017, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5579396/.

Accessed 2 Mar. 2021.