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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome can be very stressful in itself, with the weight gain, infertility, acne, excessive hair growth, and other PCOS signs and symptoms. We know that stress can be a trigger for depression and anxiety, which those with PCOS are more at risk of. Additionally, stress and PCOS both have similar underlying hormonal changes, like reduced sex hormone binding globule, insulin resistance, reduced gut and reproductive functions. So today, stress guru Doug Algeo explains more about stress.

Stress: what is it really?

What do we mean when we say “I can’t take the pressure?” Or “I’m stressed out?” Am I really? Is it a bad thing? Or do I actually need stress to get me going? A lot can be involved when we start discussing stress. It’s essential to understand a problem before we can begin to find solutions for it.

Let’s tackle the basics here with 10 top questions about stress:

1.  What is stress?

When we discuss stress, we should really be referring to the “stress reaction.” Okay, so what is the stress reaction? In short, it is an evolved survival mechanism. Our senses transmit information about a situation, and our mind has to make up its mind: am I safe or under threat? If the decision is ‘under threat,’ the mind activates the fight-or-flight response. This then equips the body to proceed with that course of action. It can occur in an instant, often before you are even consciously aware that a threat is present. It’s about gearing you up to deal with the threat in order to survive, and then restoring you to your former (unstressed) state, once the threat has abated.

2.  Is there a difference between pressure and stress?

The problem today with these words is that they have become so commonly used and now carry a host of meanings. Let’s keep it simple. Let’s think of pressure (sometimes referred to as a stressor) as the thing that is applied to us, and stress, or more accurately, our stress response, as the response to that pressure. An example: your boss drops a huge pile of paperwork on your desk, requiring it to be completed by the end of the day. That’s the pressure being applied. Upon seeing this, you stand up, scream, and run out of the office. That’s your stress response.

3.  What is acute stress?

Some dangers and threats are immediate. Back in the day, when we were living in caves, hunting and foraging for food to live, our bodies evolved to handle the various threats we encountered. Upon realising that we were in the presence of a dangerous predator, say a sabre-toothed tiger, the stress response was immediate and all-consuming. Our breathing and heart rates soared, our adrenaline pumped, and all our energies focused on our immediate survival.  This exemplifies acute stress.  It demands a big response from your body, and hopefully, it won’t need to be maintained for too long.

4.  What is chronic stress?

Some dangers and threats last over a longer term. Back to the caveman. In addition to sabre-toothed tigers, there were other threats to survival. There were periods of hunger, competition for scarce resources, hostile environments, and numerous other daily physical challenges. Our bodies also use the stress response to adapt to these long-term threats. When food was scarce, our metabolisms and other bodily functions would slow down, so our continued survival required less food. When bountiful times returned, so would our daily food requirements. This exemplifies chronic stress. It is our body’s way of surviving those longer-term threats or challenges.

5. There are no sabre-toothed tigers today, so why should stress affect me now?

While the stress response itself has not changed significantly, what we perceive as a threat has. Thanks to our mind’s ability to recall past events and think about future possibilities, we are capable of activating our stress response when simply imagining a threatening situation. So, unlike the Zebra, which is only able to focus on the immediate threats, we can worry about a threat that might occur tomorrow, next week or next month, and subsequently activate our stress response. And the situation need not be life-threatening for our mind to perceive a threat and thus activate the stress response.

6.  Do we all get stressed out by the same things?

The short answer is no. Take the example of Christmas. To some, it is a wonderful time for celebration, relaxation and reflection. To others, it is an incredibly stressful time that begins with the annual ritual of untangling the tree lights and ends only after the last straggling relative has gone home for another year. How can this be? Christmas is Christmas. This is true.  The day itself, the 25th of December, is the same for everyone. But the values, customs, social beliefs, and past experiences that we bring to a situation determine its effect on us. Thus, to some, Christmas is a source of great joy, while to others, it can be a significant stressor.

7.  Does my own mindset affect how stressed I get?

Absolutely yes, and in a number of ways. One of the things that determines how we will respond to something stressful is our perception of our ability to cope. Do we have the capacity (physically, psychologically and emotionally) to handle the threat or challenge that we are facing? What it boils down to is whether or not we believe we have control of the situation. If we believe that we do not, we may experience an increased stress reaction, possibly even reaching a state of panic. If that happens, we may become unable to decide upon a course of action and, indeed, may lose control of the situation.

8.  How does stress affect me?

There are three key ways in which stress affects us.

• Physically: Some of the ways that stress can manifest itself in your body are sleep disruption, tiredness, muscle tension, lack of energy, headaches and viral infections.
• Psychologically: These may be a little harder to spot and include lower motivation, negative thoughts, the inability to switch off, negative self-talk and anxiousness.
• Behaviourally: There are some behavioural changes caused by stress that you might want to be on the lookout for, like working through breaks, craving energy boosters, changes in appetite, teeth grinding and taking work home, becoming irritable, and withdrawing.

While any of these warning signs may also indicate other issues beyond stress, it is advisable to consider seeking professional medical advice and also consider whether stress is a contributing factor.

9.  Is stress all bad?

There is actually a positive purpose for stress when used and managed properly. The stress response is activated when our brain perceives a need for action. The stress response engages our body, and we get moving. When the alarm goes off in the morning, it is the stress response that tells our brain to wake up. The brain then tells the body, and alas, we get out of bed.

10.  What could happen if I don’t manage my stress?

The stress response evolved to help us out of sticky situations, but it was intended to be activated for short periods of time when needed, then deactivated. However, if the stress response turns into chronic stress, it can contribute to the development of serious physical conditions such as hypertension, heart disease, stomach problems and even cancer. It can also lead to psychological issues such as clinical depression, anxiety and panic disorders.

To sum it up, the stress response is our body’s way of reacting to a threat. We respond to the situation at hand and return to our normal state when the threat has been resolved. It evolved to deal with both short-term and long-term physical threats, so problems arise when we cannot endure long-term activation of the psychological stress response.  Over time, this kind of chronic stress can lead to real physical, psychological and emotional problems.  Understanding how the stress response works and applying stress management strategies to your life will go a long way toward preventing these kinds of problems in your life.

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