Stress Makes Me Sick and Fat?

course syllabus for Your Well-Being online health and wellness education course

Course Outline

Main Ideas

Learning Objective

Understand the stages of stress according to Hans Selye and the impact of chronic stress on the body.

Behavioral Objective

Develop awareness of the connection between stress and chronic inflammation, diseases, and obesity..

Key Thought

Fat is not the problem, inflammation is, and inflammation is the root cause of all disease.

Main Ideas

Learning Objective

Understand the stages of stress according to Hans Selye and the impact of chronic stress on the body.

Behavioral Objective

Develop awareness of the connection between stress and chronic inflammation, diseases, and obesity..

Key Thought

Fat is not the problem, inflammation is, and inflammation is the root cause of all disease.

Terms

Chronic Inflammation

noun

Prolonged and persistent inflammation marked chiefly by new connective tissue formation; it may be a continuation of an acute form or a prolonged low-grade form.

Terms

Chronic Inflammation

noun

Prolonged and persistent inflammation marked chiefly by new connective tissue formation; it may be a continuation of an acute form or a prolonged low-grade form.

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Activities

Introduction

We have invested the last two sections observing ourselves and our stressors, and beginning to think about new ways we can cope with the same old problems. Look back at our example from section 2. You were a prehistoric person running from a lion. Cortisol and glucose were released to be used up running away or evading the lion.

The Modern Stress Escape

In the second scenario, you were trying to meet a production deadline. Hunched over your computer, you spent 12 hour days trying to produce for a demanding boss. You felt the stress, just as much as if a lion was chasing you, but you didn't have the benefit of physical escape. Your only relief comes when the work is done and the deadline is in the past. But even with the project complete, your body is still full of cortisol because you didn't physically exert yourself to escape the stress. In our world of being ever-connected, people in our culture rarely have to take the time to escape from the stressors of life. This leads to what is known as "chronic stress."

Hans Selye's Three Stress Stages

According to Hans Selye, stress events can occur in three stages: First, the alarm phase, "Oh no, there's a LION." Then comes the resistance phase, "I got to get away from the lion." Then, finally, comes exhaustion, which occurs when the stress is constant, "I live near a lion, and I must constantly be on guard." The last phase is the most damaging because stress never allows the body to fully heal or recover. Stress can cause chronic inflammation, leading to chronic disease and obesity.

Misconception: Obesity or Disease

Many people believe that their main health problem is being overweight or diseased, but they've got it all wrong! Fat or illness is not the problem, inflammation is; inflammation is the root cause of every chronic disease. Once you have a disease, excess fat tissue actually promotes more disease through hormone imbalance, insulin imbalance and inflammation, and your body is stuck in a vicious cycle of ill health. Who knew that all of this stemmed from something as "normal" as stress?

Standing Core Strength and Posture : 1:28

Art of Worry Webinar (Parker Week 3: 8-26-14) : 84:19

Your Top Five Stressors

Take a moment to list the top five stressors in your life and what you think you could do to help relieve that stress. Remember, choosing to think differently (meditate on a better way) can be a great solution!