Welcome to Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Day (CBT) on the forums!
The health educators will launch a challenge every week. Members are encouraged to take on the challenge and post their results. Health educators will then post specific tips and strategies to aid you in the way you look/interpret yourself and the way you view the world.
This week we will be talking about stress…
The stress reaction results from an outpouring of adrenaline, a stimulant hormone, into the blood stream. This, with other stress hormones, produces a number of changes in the body which are intended to be protective. The result often is called "the fight-or-flight response" because it provides the strength and energy to either fight or run away from danger. The changes include an increase in heart rate and blood pressure (to get more blood to the muscles, brain and heart), faster breathing (to take in more oxygen), tensing of muscles (preparation for action), increased mental alertness and sensitivity of sense organs (to assess the situation and act quickly), increased blood flow to the organs and an increase in blood sugar, fats and cholesterol (for extra energy) and a rise in platelets and clotting factors (to prevent hemorrhage in case of injury).
This week we challenge you to keep track of how many stressful situations you’ve had this week and post up your numbers here!
Stay tuned for Part II!
Breanne, Bilingual Health Educator