“Stress; it is the individual’s reaction to changes in the environment in which he or she is living or to various difficult conditions”

Dr. Suat Günsel University of Kyrenia Hospital Clinical Psychologist Feriha Kaşifoğlu made the following statement about 6th of November Stress Awareness Day. Kaşifoğlu stated that a certain rate of controllable stress can cause beneficial effects by increasing one to focus, learn and to be productive, also triggering success. However, Clinical Psychologist Feriha Kaşifoğlu also stressed that the inability to cope with frequent or long-term stress affects the individual’s life negatively and reduces productivity.

Clinical Psychologist Feriha Kaşifoğlu stated that stress, which is an inevitable part of life can have many sources such as negative life events, traffic accidents, falling in love or having to work hard for a particular purpose.

What are the sources of stress?
Clinical Psychologist Feriha Kaşifoğlu explained that the sources for stress includes having to adapt to environmental factors, daily events, time wasted in traffic, adapting to road and weather conditions, to cope with social stress factors, problems and changes in the workplace, paying debts, diseases, aging, unhealthy eating habits, as well as poor sleeping habits.

Kaşifoğlu also stated that one’s perspective on events, the world, and the way they interpret them are possible sources of stress.

Clinical Psychologist Feriha Kaşifoğlu reminded that stress has several symptoms such as;  heart palpitations, headache, nausea, jaw muscle contraction, sweating, chills, cold or hot flushes, contraction and joint pain, gastrointestinal problems, fatigue, acceleration in breathing, energy loss, physical, emotional and mental symptoms such as unhappiness, loss of interest, crying, distress, anxiety, rapid change of mental state, irritability, outbursts of anger, tension, difficulty in decision-making, concentration problems and forgetfulness.

  What happens to your body during stress response?
Clinical Psychologist Feriha Kaşifoğlu explained the effect of stress on our body as the following; when you face a frightening situation or a threat, when you need to defend yourself or escape from danger, the organism assumes that it is under threat. The nervous system automatically releases some stress hormones such as adrenaline to protect the organism and also prepares the organism for the ‘fight or flight’ response. The task of adrenaline is to prepare the body for a fight. In the event of danger, one has to run away or fight. The heart rate and breathing rate increases, muscles become stiff, blood pressure rises and you start to experience feelings like butterflies in your stomach. This reaction is a system to protect the body. Stress can also cause sleep problems as it causes excessive arousal along with irritability and crying, and leads to concentration, learning and memory problems.

Kaşifoğlu, stated that regardless of the source of the individual’s stress, it is important how one reacts to stress. In addition, it is important to become aware of the sources of stress instead of expecting a stress free life, and to develop coping skills.