How can we fight stress?

Stress, what is it?

Stress is a completely natural human feeling. It starts out as a reflex, a defence mechanism which helps us face and forces us to react to an external threat, as a fight or flight response to danger.

First of all, in the warning phase, stress causes what is known as a rush of adrenaline in our body, to help us react: our heart rate increases, and blood rushes to our muscles. Our strength, our reflexes and our perception of things then improve, to help us make the best decision.

A few minutes later, stress takes hold in a different way. We then enter the resistance phase. This is when cortisol is released, to help us act appropriately. Cortisol helps mobilize the necessary energy resources: originally for the fight or flight response but, nowadays, for facing any type of stressful situaion we may encounter.

Once the event which caused stress has passed, the body will relax – we may then feel tired – and return to a “normal” state after resting for some time. Nevertheless, stress can sometimes persist, and the body is unable to shake off this state. This then leads to the exhaustion phase, as the constant release of cortisol forces us to draw on our energy reserves. The body then becomes weak. Moreover, chronic stress will, inter alia, negatively affect the release of monoaminergic neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline. The deficiency of these neurotransmitters will contribute to the creation of mood disorders, which are themselves generated by stress. This is when the body becomes weakened.

ORTIS Laboratories have developed a natural solution able to adapt to all phases. Formulated with ginseng and saffron, it acts on both the modulation of cortisol production and monoaminergic neurotransmitters. It does not hide stress but helps to better resist and combat it by strengthening mental and physical well-being, maintaining a good mood and helping to relax.

We need to identify stress before we can fight it

Many people do not realise they are suffering from chronic stress. This can be expressed in several ways, including:

• Difficulty concentrating;
• Tense muscles;
• Gastrointestinal discomfort;
• Sleep disorders;
• Fatigue;
• Compensatory behaviours: tobacco, alcohol or drug use, overeating;
• etc.

Chronic stress can also cause behavioural and/or physical imbalances: a tendency to become isolated, a negative perception of reality, loss of motivation, lethargy, irritability, anxiety, low self-esteem, heartburn, weakened immune system, cellular ageing, etc.

Natural solutions for fighting stress

Some people tolerate stress better than others. Nevertheless, there are a few methods for helping us manage this type of situation more effectively.

Different practices exist for fighting stress:

• reflexology;
• sophrology;
• yoga;
• meditation;
• stretching;
• physical exercise followed by a moment of calm;
• etc.