← The Body-Mind Connection of Stress
Flashcards
The Body-Mind Connection of Stress
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The Body-Mind Connection of Stress
| Front | Back |
|---|---|
| What is the "fight or flight" response? | The body's instinctive, hardwired survival reaction to stress, in which hormones prepare the body to either confront or flee a threat. |
| Hormones | Chemicals produced by glands and carried through the bloodstream that affect the activities of organs in the body. |
| Hypothalamus | A gland located in the brain that signals the pituitary gland to begin the stress hormone response. |
| Pituitary gland | A gland in the brain that receives signals from the hypothalamus and then signals the adrenal glands to release stress hormones. |
| Adrenal glands | Glands situated on top of the kidneys that release the stress hormones epinephrine, norepinephrine, and cortisol. |
| Epinephrine and norepinephrine | Stress hormones that increase heart rate and breathing, providing a burst of energy to fight or flee; keep the body alert and awake. |
| Cortisol | A stress hormone that shuts down stomach digestion while putting the digestive tract into high gear, which can cause nausea. |
| Serotonin | A hormone that increases good feelings and regulates sleep; blocked by epinephrine and norepinephrine during stress, causing sleeplessness. |
| Why do hands feel cold under stress? | Stress hormones move blood away from the skin and appendages toward the heart and muscles for strength. |
| Why does the mouth get dry under stress? | Body fluids are redirected to vital organs, leaving less fluid available for saliva production. |
| Why does the heart beat faster under stress? | Stress hormones speed up blood flow by 300-400%, so the heart beats faster to move blood to organs and muscles. |
| Why is it hard to concentrate under stress? | Stress hormones affect short-term memory so the body can focus on the immediate "danger," while also storing the event in long-term memory. |
| Why do headaches occur under stress? | Tight head and neck muscles and constricted blood vessels (which reduce blood flow to the head) are thought to cause stress headaches. |
| Why does stress cause sleeplessness? | Continued production of epinephrine and norepinephrine blocks serotonin, the hormone that helps you sleep. |
| Why does stress affect appetite? | Certain foods raise serotonin levels and improve mood, leading to cravings for foods like candy, soda, or ice cream; others lose their appetite. |
| Short-term stress symptoms | Cold hands, dry mouth, difficulty swallowing, nausea, rapid heartbeat, and lack of concentration. |
| Long-term stress symptoms | Headaches, sleeplessness, appetite change, and unusual sudden anger. |
| Why might a stressed person have angry outbursts? | Stress can make a person feel helpless and overwhelmed, reducing patience and triggering angry reactions. |
| BAM! Body and Mind Web site | A website referenced in the lesson with resources like "Got Butterflies?" and "Feelin' Frazzled?" to help students understand and manage stress. |
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