Stress affects physiological, behavioral and cognitive levels, producing specific effects in each area. In this article, I explain in more detail what are the consequences of acute stress in these three fields, the physiological and cognitive reactions produced by stress.
Index
- Influence of stress at the physiological level
- Influence of stress on behavior
- Influence of stress at the cognitive level
Influence of stress at the physiological level.
A stressful situation has its reflection on a physical level since stress produces a weight that increases body stiffness. One of the symptoms that the person may experience is muscle tension in a generalized way in different parts of the body. In fact, stress also shows up in facial stiffness. A person who is stressed is tense and does not smile. Other physical effects linked to stress are: stomach pain, feeling dizzy and excessive sweating. Stress can produce distress when it is linked to anxiety as in acute stress.
Influence of stress on behavior.
A thought influences the feeling and the feeling is reflected in the action. Taking into account this causal chain, a stressful thought produces a less than hopeful feeling that influences the way of acting. What happens when a person is stressed and cannot manage this feeling? For example, a person may get stuck doing a very important exam.
There is also the defense mechanism of avoidance that leads people to run away from situations that produce discomfort. However, avoidance should never be fed as a habitual habit since stress increases.
Influence of stress at the cognitive level.
When we analyze reality from the point of view of stress, we observe the facts in an altered way. We don't see things as they are but we see a partial information of the reality. From this point of view, when observing the negative, the feeling of fear arises before what is experienced as an external threat.
The person tends to be defensive. As with sadness, a stressed person also has a harder time maintaining his or her attention and may suffer from daily distractions.
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Physiological and cognitive reactions produced by stress, we recommend that you enter our category of Clinical psychology.
