Prolonged exposure to emotional stress can lead to severe human health problems. Constant stress disrupts the activity of almost every system of the human body. Stress contributes to high blood pressure, depresses the immune system, increases the risk of heart attack and stroke, promotes infertility, and activates the aging process. What are consequences stress?

What causes stress

• Problems during pregnancy. Stress in women during pregnancy provokes increased toxicosis, the development of a number of diseases, birth anomalies.

The consequences of severe emotional stress in pregnant women, some experts include entanglement of the umbilical cord around the baby's neck during childbirth.

It has been established that 7 out of 10 cases of myocardial infarction are caused by psychological overload.

• Problems of the endocrine system. Under stressful circumstances, the adrenal glands produce adrenaline and cortisol. Therefore, the liver is taken to produce even more glucose. In the future, elevated glucose levels can provoke diabetes.

Effects of stress at work

With strong and prolonged professional stress, the consequences are very unfavorable. A person experiences a feeling of emotional nervous tension, excitement, anxiety. This affects not only the level of productivity, but also physical and emotional health.

As a result of occupational stress, self-confidence decreases, work stress increases, and job satisfaction decreases. Absenteeism and poor productivity are also linked to stress at work. There is evidence that occupational stress contributes to the development of diseases.

Occupational stress has physical and psychological consequences. The physical phenomenon contributes to health problems: high blood pressure, heart attacks, stroke, diabetes, muscle pain, weakened immune system. The psychological negative effects of occupational stress can lead to exhaustion, depression, domestic violence, and sometimes suicide.

Complications after traumatic stress

The consequences of traumatic stress are depressive states, panic attacks and phobias, anxiety disorders and neurosis. If a person is not provided with the necessary assistance, very serious complications may appear that can knock him out of a normal life rut.

The psychological state of a person after traumatic stress changes very much. He has memory lapses, a person tries to throw out of it the facts that are associated with the experienced shock. He becomes indifferent, inactive, hostile and insensitive. The person is trying:

• stubbornly avoid everything that is connected with the experienced misfortune;
• withdraw from society;
• to dull all emotions that can lead to a repetition of the tragedy;
• do not make plans, be content with the near future.

Such an existence cannot be called complete, and this is the danger of the consequences of traumatic stress. A person who has undergone traumatic stress and has not received qualified assistance becomes a completely different person. Now its specific features are:

• irritability and hostility;
• distraction;
• hypervigilance and suspicion;
• exaggerated response.

Obviously, stress contributes to a general deterioration in health, the emergence of depression, phobias and other psychological disorders. A person's relationship with the environment deteriorates, addiction to drugs or alcohol may develop, and suicide attempts are likely.

Some scientists even argue that stress is a major factor in the development of cancer and other cancers.

The consequences of stress can be very destructive, so you need to think about how to reduce its impact and what methods to use to combat it.

Video: about stress and its consequences

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The theory of stress was proposed by the Canadian endocrinologist Hans Selye, since then it has remained practically unchanged.

Stress is the body's normal response to something new or unexpected. For example, you were attacked by a maniac with an axe. Your body starts a response, comes

the first stage of stress is anxiety, or mobilization

The sympathetic nervous system is turned on - part of the autonomic nervous system responsible for the work of internal organs. The invigorating hormones adrenaline and norepinephrine are released into the bloodstream, followed a little later by the glucocorticoids cortisol and corticosterone. They are called stress hormones. As a result of the joint work of the autonomic nervous system and hormones, a number of changes occur in the body.

The energy resources of the body are mobilized. The liver releases glucose into the blood, the breakdown of adipose tissue begins in the body so that the cells receive enough energy. Breathing becomes deeper so that more oxygen goes to the heart and muscles. The heart begins to beat faster so that the blood flows faster.

The speed of your reaction increases, sensitivity to pain decreases, due to vasoconstriction, the risk of bleeding is lower. The immune system is activated at the first stage: injury is possible, it is necessary to protect the body from the penetration of bacteria.

Also, during a strong stress reaction, the intestines and bladder can be emptied so that nothing distracts you from dealing with the stressor.

This reaction turns on in a few seconds. Now you have more chances to run away from the maniac or take the ax from him. In a state of acute stress, some people are capable of doing the impossible: for example, with their bare hands, stop a wild animal or lift an unbearable weight. From a biological point of view, such stress is a good helper in the struggle for survival. In a normal state, you are unlikely to be able to figure out how to get down from the 5th floor, escaping from a fire, or climb a tall tree from a pack of angry dogs.

The bodily reaction is called physical stress. But there is also a psychological one, which is found in humans and some higher animals. We can trigger a stress response just by thinking: you don't see an evil maniac, but you watch a horror movie and imagine that he is about to attack. So you can achieve the same effect as if an angry killer on the screen was standing in front of you.

The second function of stress is adaptive. The founder of the theory of stress, Hans Selye, called it an adaptation syndrome, the body's way of adapting to various stimuli. Adaptation takes place during

the second stage of stress - adaptive, or resistance

If the stress factor does not disappear or is repeated often, then resistance is developed to stress, the body adapts. For example, when you perform in public every day, it’s scary only the first few times, then you calmly go on stage.

Stress itself is a reaction non-specific. This means that the body reacts in the same way to any stimuli: good and bad. It doesn't matter if you saw a maniac or a school first love - the body produces the same hormones, produces the same stress reaction. Pleasant surprises are just as stressful for us as unpleasant events. Or take another example: the body reacts differently to the effects of heat and cold, but the stress reaction still proceeds in the same way: activation of the sympathetic nervous system, the release of adrenaline and cortisol.

Stress is non-specific, but the adaptation of the body to a stress factor is always specific: the body gets used to heat in one way, and to cold in another way. Faced regularly with the same stressor, the body adapts to it. If the stimulus is changed, for example, from heat to cold, the stress response will again become high - it will not be possible to get used to the stress itself, although trained people can tolerate it more easily.

It seems that everything is fine: stress helps us escape, allows us to get used to various stressors. Everything is fine, except for one detail: stress causes adaptation if the stimulus can be used - that is, it is not beyond the body's endurance.

If the stress factor is too strong or prolonged, the body cannot cope with it,

the third stage of stress is the stage of exhaustion,

It can lead to various illnesses and even death.

Imagine that a maniac with an ax attacks you every day. You do not know at what time and from where it will appear, whether you have enough strength to flee this time. How many days or weeks will you last, constantly expecting an attack? Most likely not for long.

Stress, which briefly affects the body and helps it adapt, is called eustress, the prefix "eu" means "good, right." Stress that destroys the body is called distress, "dis" - "violation, disorder."

With distress, the body is constantly in tension, the level of hormones of the adrenal cortex is increased, the body is always ready for battle, the brain feels anxiety.

What factors cause stress and what determines the strength of the reaction

Sometimes only a reaction to strong influences is considered stress. In fact, even minor changes can trigger a stress response if they are new and unpleasant. Much depends on life experience, the degree of anxiety of a person and the state of the body. In addition, the level of stress depends on the significance of the situation for a person, his emotional attitude towards it.

For example, for a villager, a trip to the subway is stressful, and spending the night in a haystack is a common thing. For a city dweller, the opposite is true. For an introvert, socializing can be stressful, but for an extrovert, it's a pleasure.

There is a misconception that stress occurs in response to harmful influences. However, the body reacts both to pleasant changes and to those events that may be beneficial in the future.

Stress occurs when:

• You are faced with new factors or situations, with something unusual. For example, the ringing of an alarm clock is an unpleasant stimulus, but it does not cause stress, we hear it regularly. But the first flight on an airplane may well lead to a stress response.

• You are faced with a strong stimulus. For example, the usual summer temperature does not cause stress, but if the thermometer reads +40, the body will react.

The strength of the stress reaction increases with a lack of time to solve the problem. The smaller it is, the more stress. The more time to look around, collect information and make a decision, the less the body reacts.

Another important factor: the characteristics of your body. Some people are genetically predisposed to severe stress. For example, if the body releases more cortisol, or the limbic system of the brain responsible for anxiety is increased, you will worry and feel stressed more and more often than other people, sometimes for things that they consider insignificant.

How stress can be helpful

Under stress, endogenous opiates - enkephalins and endorphins - are intensively released. These compounds cause euphoria. That is why pleasant experiences are rarely associated with the unpleasant word "stress": the body experiences the same stress reaction, but anxiety seems like a pleasant excitement.

The normal stress response can be used to your advantage, even if the situation seems unpleasant. For example, you may be afraid of talking to your boss about salary, like meeting with a maniac, but you can’t run away or fight - need to agree. Here, the stress response can give you strength, energy, excitement.

If you perceive stress positively, you can set yourself up for the task - to argue with your boss and get the desired increase. Under the action of the sympathetic-adrenal system, your body and brain are in optimal conditions for victory, stress increases the motivation to succeed.

In moderation, stress factors increase the psychological and physical resistance of a person to negative influences - this helps to cope with difficult situations more easily. Small short-term stresses can be considered training of the body. There is a theory by psychologist Richard Dienstbier, according to which the experience of managed stress with recovery after it helps to overcome difficulties in the future more easily.

Stress should not be treated as evil - a lot depends on how often you experience stress, how you feel about it, what other negative factors affect your body and brain. Maybe the stress response is just what you need to get a taste of life.

Life is impossible without stress reactions. They can be caused by various reasons - problems at work, relationships with people, diseases, minor troubles. These situations do not go unnoticed. The consequences of stress, especially with prolonged exposure, affect the psychological and physical health of a person.

Why is stress dangerous?

When a person is in a stressful situation for a long time, a number of changes occur with his body. This is reflected in his well-being, emotional state, behavior, relationships with loved ones, performance.

There is a widespread belief that all diseases arise from the nerves. For people who are wondering if it is possible to get sick due to stress, the answer is a definite yes. Not all diseases and not in all cases are caused by nervous tension, but this factor contributes to the development of disorders of various systems in the body.

In addition to physical problems, stress can cause emotional and cognitive problems. Being under the influence of stress factors, a person becomes less balanced. He can behave aggressively and irritably with others, or, conversely, become more passive and apathetic, subject to depressive moods.

The work of the brain in a person who is under stress for a long time is also amenable to detrimental influence. Because of this, absent-mindedness, memory problems, and it becomes more difficult to concentrate.

Together, poor physical condition, emotional instability and cognitive impairment affect all areas of human activity. Performance decreases and the results of classes become less effective. As a result, there may be problems at work, or a person achieves less than he could achieve without being under the influence of stress.

Difficulty with controlling emotions can lead to conflicts with others. Failures at work and stressful situations at home become new stressors that have a negative impact on the state, emotions and thought processes. The result is a vicious circle where the stress response causes new stress.

The factors that trigger the stress response are not the same for all people. How the body reacts to a situation depends on perception. For example, a claustrophobic person will be terrified if they find themselves in an enclosed space. For people without such a phobia, such a situation will be neutral, so it will not cause any emotions.

The causes and consequences of stress may be different, but the body will react in such conditions in the same way.

What happens in the human body during stress?

The human body reacts to a stress factor as if it were a danger. It doesn't matter that nothing threatens life at this moment, the body will behave as if there is a mortal threat. In such a situation, the body mobilizes all the forces to cope with it. If we draw parallels with a threat to life, then there are 2 options for responding: run away or fight. In both cases, concentration, reaction time and muscle tone are necessary.

Therefore, in a stressful situation, adrenaline and cortisol are released into the blood. They increase blood pressure and speed up the heartbeat. Breathing also becomes more frequent. Peripheral vision weakens, the gaze focuses more on the subject of danger.

The level of sugar in the blood rises, which contributes to the release of energy, which may be needed for the active work of the muscles. Digestive functions weaken, sweating increases. Psychomotor reactions become faster, the nervous system is activated. The release of glucocorticoids, hormones produced by the adrenal glands, inhibits immune responses.

In the short term, stress can be beneficial as it mobilizes both physical and mental processes, allowing for faster and more efficient decision making and action. But the body cannot always be in an activated state, therefore, when the influence of stress lasts for a long time, negative changes begin. The cardiovascular system suffers, the immune system does not cope with its tasks.

Stress in women and men can manifest itself in different ways. Women tend to be more emotional, so they may become more irritable and often cry. Stress can be more of a health problem for men, as they often choose to keep their feelings in check.

The negative effects of stress

Problems with physical and psychological health, poor relationships with loved ones, lack of fulfillment in the career field - this is what stress leads to.

Physiological effects of stress

A long stay in a stressful situation can lead to pathologies of the cardiovascular system: tachycardia, hypertension, and the risk of heart attack and stroke increases. There were cases that after suffering severe stress during the night, a rash appeared on the skin; often there are disorders of the digestive system. The protective functions of the immune system are reduced, so a person may face frequent colds and infections.

Due to excessive constant muscle tension, clamps can occur. Often there are insomnia, disorders in the sexual sphere. Diabetes is a disease that can often develop under the influence of stress. According to research, the processes in the body that occur during a stressful situation can contribute to the emergence of cancer.

Psychological consequences of severe stress

Not only diseases from stress can occur, but also mental disorders. Especially high risk of developing depression and anxiety disorder. A constant feeling of fear can lead to panic attacks.

A person under the influence of stress factors is characterized by increased irritability. This can lead to conflicts with others.

Among the consequences of prolonged stress on the psychological state of a person are apathy, fatigue, lack of motivation, chronic fatigue syndrome, a feeling of internal tension. All this can lead to neurosis.

How to recover from stress?

In order to cope with a stressful situation, it is necessary to solve the problem that causes it. To reduce the risk of illness from nerves, it is worth leading a healthy lifestyle: sleep well, monitor nutrition.

In a stressful situation, people can often abuse alcohol or overeat. Instead of promoting bad habits, if you can't manage on your own, it's better to see a psychologist. He can help not only with the problem that you have addressed, but also teach you how to respond to similar situations in the future in order to reduce the likely negative consequences.

General relaxation is promoted by yoga, meditation, breathing practices. Any physical activity reduces the level of emotional stress.

If the nervous tension is too strong, you can use herbal sedatives, which can be bought at any pharmacy. Anxiolytics and tranquilizers require a doctor's prescription.

Any strong impact on a person leads to the inclusion of the protective abilities of his body, or stress. At the same time, the strength of the stimulus is such that the existing barriers cannot provide the necessary level of protection, which leads to the launch of other mechanisms.

Severe stress plays an important role in human life, as it neutralizes the effects caused by the irritant. The stress reaction is characteristic of all living beings, but due to the social factor, it has reached the greatest perfection in humans.

Symptoms of severe stress

For all types of such a reaction of the body, some common signs of burnout are characteristic, which affect not only the physical, but also the psychological sphere of a person. The number of symptoms of severe stress is directly proportional to its severity.

Cognitive signs include problems with memory and concentration, constant worry and anxious thoughts, fixation only on bad events.

In the emotional sphere, stress is manifested by capriciousness, short temper, irritability, feelings of overload, isolation and loneliness, inability to relax, general despondency and even depression.

Behavioral symptoms of severe stress are overeating or undereating, drowsiness or insomnia, neglect of duties, isolation from other people, nervous habits (finger snapping, nail biting), and use of drugs, cigarettes and alcohol to relax.

Physical signs include headaches, nausea and dizziness, heart palpitations, diarrhea or constipation, loss of sex drive, and frequent colds.

It is worth noting that the symptoms and signs of severe stress can also be caused by several other medical and psychological problems. If these symptoms are found, it is necessary to contact a psychologist who will give a competent assessment of the situation and determine whether these signs are associated with this phenomenon.

The effects of severe stress

Under moderate stress, the body and mind of a person work most efficiently, which prepares the body for an optimal mode of functioning. In this case, the goals set are achieved without depleting vitality.

Unlike moderate stress, severe stress remains a positive factor only for a very short time, after which it leads to disruption of normal human life.

The consequences of severe stress are serious health problems and malfunctions of almost all body systems: blood pressure rises, the risk of stroke and heart attack increases, the immune system is suppressed, and the aging process accelerates. Another consequence of such an overstrain can be infertility. After severe stress, anxiety disorders, depressions and neuroses also occur.

Many problems arise or worsen after a stressful situation, for example:

• Heart diseases;
• Obesity;
• digestive problems;
• autoimmune diseases;
• sleep problems;
• Skin diseases (eczema).

You can avoid the negative impact of stress factors by increasing the level of stress resistance, using existing methods, or with the help of medicines.

Ways to increase stress resistance

Help to increase stress resistance:

• Social connections. With the support of family members and friends, it is much easier to avoid severe stress, and if it does happen, then it is easier to cope with it in the company of close people;
• Feeling of control. A self-confident person is able to influence events and overcome difficulties, he is calmer and easier to accept any stressful situation;
• Optimism. With such a worldview, the consequences of severe stress are practically leveled, a person perceives changes as a natural part of his life, believes in goals and higher powers;
• The ability to deal with emotions. If a person does not know how to calm himself, he is very vulnerable. The ability to bring emotions into a state of balance helps to resist misfortunes;
• Knowledge and preparation. Understanding what awaits a person after severe stress contributes to the acceptance of a stressful situation. For example, recovery after surgery will be less traumatic if you know about its consequences in advance, rather than waiting for a miraculous cure.

Methods for quickly relieving tension and stress

Some techniques help in a short time to get rid of severe stress. These include the following methods:

• Physical exercise - jogging, cycling, swimming, dancing, playing tennis distract from the problem;
• Deep breathing - focusing on your own breathing helps to forget about the stress factor for a while and look at the situation from the outside;
• Relaxation - promotes sound sleep and effectively relieves stress;
• A break from everyday life - going on vacation, going to the theater or cinema, reading books, artificially creating images in your head, for example, forests, rivers, beaches, allow you to get distracted;
• Meditation - gives a feeling of peace and well-being;
• Massage is one of the most effective ways to relax and reduce the effects of severe stress;
• Decrease in the pace of life - helps to look at the situation in a more relaxed atmosphere;
• Reconsideration of life positions - attempts to achieve unrealistic goals lead to nervous breakdowns and stress, and inevitable failures only aggravate the condition.

Calming for severe stress

The safest sedatives for severe stress are herbal preparations (motherwort, valerian, mint). They are suitable for people who are able to control their own emotions and, by and large, can calm down themselves. But if the stress is prolonged, such drugs are not suitable. Herbal tablets are optimal for children, as they are devoid of side effects, are not addictive and do not linger in the body.

No less popular are bromine preparations, which are relatively safe, although they can accumulate in the body, causing bromism, manifested by apathy, lethargy, weakness, and in men also a decrease in sexual desire.

However, the main sedatives for severe stress are tranquilizers, or anxiolytics. Tranquilizers remove the feeling of fear and anxiety, reduce muscle tone, reduce the speed of thinking and completely calm. Such drugs have dangerous side effects, the main of which are rapid addiction, as well as a decrease in mental and motor activity. Anxiolytics are prescribed only by a specialist.

Another type of pill used after severe stress is antidepressants. Although they do not belong to sedatives, they allow you to relieve tension and bring your emotional state into shape. Antidepressants have a strong effect on the central nervous system, helping to forget about troubles, but you can’t take them without a doctor’s prescription, since these pills are also addictive.

In the fight against stress, all methods are important, but you should not self-medicate. An experienced specialist will advise the best method of treatment in each specific situation.

Video from YouTube on the topic of the article:

Treatment of stress: what methods help get rid of symptoms and consequences?

In the frantic pace of modern life, stress haunts a person constantly. But what lies behind this common concept? Today, it is customary to call stress any emotional upheaval, painful experiences, the bitterness of unjustified hopes. However, the medical interpretation of the term is much narrower - far from every fear, pain or disappointment is stress.

Not all people who have undergone a powerful emotional attack break down, lose their vitality and fall into a depressive state. At the same time, true stress is destructive and dangerous to health. That is why it is so important to recognize it and start treatment on time. Let us consider in more detail how to distinguish stress from nervous tension, what consequences this phenomenon entails and how to deal with it.

Stress or no stress: that is the question

An accurate description of stress was compiled 80 years ago. The Austro-Hungarian biologist Hans Selye pointed out that stress is a complex of adaptive reactions of the body to the requirements presented to it due to the influence of factors that led to a violation of homeostasis (the body's ability to maintain a constancy of the internal environment). In other words, it is tension that causes a combination of external, usually unfavorable, factors.

A stress factor can be any change in a person's habitual life. Emotional upheavals often provoke not only external circumstances, but also a subconscious attitude to specific events. The death of a close relative, a break with a loved one, trouble at work, a lack of confidence in the future, a frantic pace of life and constant time pressure - all this can unbalance. The reasons can also be "internal" in nature: poor nutrition, deficiency of minerals and vitamins, disorders in the endocrine and immune systems, allergies. Nervous stress is much deeper than ordinary excitement, it is a physiological reaction of the body to exposure, which has specific symptoms, phases and consequences.

American psychiatrists Thomas Holmes and Richard Rey, based on large-scale studies, compiled a table of the stressfulness of life events. On the top line with a score of almost 100 points - the death of a spouse. On the second - 78 points - divorce. On the third - 65 points - parting with a partner. Thus, the end of a relationship with a loved one has a stronger impact than imprisonment (63 points), the death of a relative (63 points), a serious illness (53 points).

With adverse effects, the pituitary gland begins to actively produce adrenocorticotropin. This hormone, in turn, affects the adrenal glands, which are the producers of "stress hormones" - cortisol, norepinephrine, adrenaline. There is an increased production of glucose, cholesterol, fatty acids. A person's blood pressure rises and the heart beat increases. In small doses, it is even useful - stress stimulates activity and encourages action.

With prolonged stress, the level of cortisol in the blood is constantly overestimated. This causes hypertension, thyroid problems, and an increase in blood glucose levels. Gradually, bones lose their strength, tissues begin to break down, and the immune system suffers. A signal is constantly sent to the brain about the need to store fats, there is a craving for sweets, starchy foods and fatty foods, and an increase in body weight occurs. Although the reverse clinical picture may also appear, leading to a lack of appetite and physical exhaustion.

Unfortunately, not everyone can immediately recognize the onset of chronic stress. The first sign of a problem is insomnia. Later, other symptoms appear. A person loses the ability to adequately respond to stimuli. For no apparent reason, he becomes enraged or breaks into tears. The ability to concentrate is lost, important details fall out of memory. Gradually lost interest in work and entertainment. Frequent headaches and incessant anxiety are not ruled out. The risk of serious diseases increases. The cardiovascular system and the gastrointestinal tract suffer to a greater extent. Ulcers, hypertension, angina pectoris, stroke and even oncology - all these are real consequences of a long stay of the body in a stressful state. Therefore, it is important to detect the problem in time and start treating stress before it begins to destroy the body.

Types and phases of stress, or is it far from mild anxiety to depression

Medical practice divides stress into two types: eustress (positive form) and distress (negative). In the first case, the body's vital resources are mobilized, followed by vigorous activity. In the second - a negative impact on the somatic and mental health of a person. The psycho-emotional sphere of a person is upset, which entails a severe depressive state.

Hans Selye, mentioned above, identified three stages in the development of stress:

1. alarm- stage of anxiety. The body reacts to stress factors, anxiety increases, self-control weakens, self-control is lost. Behavior often changes to the exact opposite: a seasoned person can become aggressive, and vice versa. Possible exacerbation of psychosomatic diseases: gastritis, migraine, ulcers, allergies. The duration of the phase is individual - from several days to many weeks.
2. The stage of resistance, or resistance. Occurs if the stress factor continues its impact. The body's defenses are ready to give an instant rebuff to the irritant. At this stage, a person is able to realize that he is in the grip of stress, and choose an effective way to deal with it. Diseases in the second phase usually disappear, but in the third they appear with a vengeance.
3. stage of exhaustion. Physiological and psychological defense mechanisms have exhausted themselves. The person feels tired and empty. Anxiety reappears, but it no longer leads to the mobilization of internal reserves, and the patient is unable to take any action on his own. Following anxiety, fear and panic develop, pathological psychosomatic conditions appear that require urgent treatment.

Psychologists say that it is impossible to avoid stressful situations. The more we try to live quietly and calmly, ignoring problems, the more vulnerable we are. Instead of “running away” from emotional upheavals and upheavals, it is necessary to learn to control oneself, to develop the ability to self-regulate. A person must be able to restrain himself, be patient, suppress internal "explosions", then there is a chance not to suffer from severe stress and depression.

Nevertheless, each person has an individual scenario for the development of stress and behavior in a situation of emotional shock. The frequency, form and type of reaction can vary significantly. Someone experiences stress regularly, finding the strength to deal with them on their own. And someone from the first time experiences the full force of painful manifestations, needing outside help. It is generally accepted that in the first two stages, a person can overcome anxiety and stress without medication. It is necessary to eliminate the factor that caused emotional discord, reconsider the way of life, resort to trainings and methods of psychological relief. It will not be superfluous to contact a specialist who can prescribe herbal preparations, vitamins, and dietary supplements. In the third stage, medical support is needed. Treatment for long-term stress is likely to be complex, with antidepressants or tranquilizers.

We treat stress without drugs

Non-drug methods are the first thing to start with in the fight against stress. These include:

• Psychotherapy. The psychotherapist identifies the factor that caused stress, determines the depth of the problem and the body's reserves to withstand the situation. The therapy combines different techniques. Usually this is a confidential conversation, during which the doctor can set up experiments, drawing the patient's attention to his feelings, fears and experiences. As a result, a person must look at various situations and life in general from an angle that allows one to see the possibilities of choice. This forms the desire to create the most comfortable conditions and avoid stressful scenarios. Hypnosis also belongs to this group.
• Relaxation, training. Relaxation helps to reduce the psychophysical activity of the body in the waking state. There are many relaxation techniques: breathing-relaxation training, autogenic training, progressive muscle relaxation and others. In the process of exercising, the patient's muscle tension decreases, blood pressure decreases, the heart rate calms down, which minimizes the negative impact of stress on physiology. Trainings are aimed primarily at relieving emotional stress, for example, by reducing the significance of problems, fighting fear through humor, etc.
• Physical activity. Physical activity allows you to naturally “utilize” excess adrenaline. With long sessions (more than half an hour), “hormones of joy” - endorphins - begin to stand out in the body. The type of sport and the number of workouts are selected individually: from walking in the fresh air to active work in the gym.
• Lifestyle correction. This is a prerequisite for recovery. Change must come in all areas. This is the consumption of natural products, and reducing the amount of alcohol, and the fight against excess weight, and a full-fledged regime of work and rest with going to bed no later than 23 hours.

Therapy with natural antidepressants should not be underestimated. The human body has a huge potential, it is able to overcome stress, if only the person himself realizes the need for this. For example, in the event of parting with a loved one, one should not fill the pillow with tears around the clock. You need to throw out aggression in sports, master breathing techniques and yoga, devote time to caring for your body, communicate with new positive people, travel, etc. All this gives a tangible effect, coupled with pharmacology, which underlies the treatment process.

Pharmacotherapy for stress

In a situation where it is not possible to cope with the manifestations of stress, the feeling of fear and anxiety increases, the condition worsens, the right decision would be to seek professional help and treatment. The psychologist, if necessary, will refer you for a consultation with a psychotherapist or neurologist for specific appointments.

The range of medicines is wide.

• Vitamins, homeopathic remedies and dietary supplements. These are the most "harmless" drugs that have a minimum of contraindications and side effects. Homeopaths prescribe for stress Argenticum Nitricum, Aurum Metallic, Gelsemium- 6 or 30 consecutive dilutions of the active substance in a ratio of 1:100. Multivitamin complexes are indicated for frequent stress. This is due to the acceleration of anabolism and an increased need for vitamins, without which protein biosynthesis is impossible. These are B vitamins: B 1, B 2, B 3, B 6, B 12. In contrast to stress, the body begins to actively produce the hormone serotonin, which causes a feeling of calm, well-being, happiness. Serotonin synthesis requires the amino acid L-tryptophan. It has a beneficial effect on sleep and reduces cravings for fatty and high-calorie foods. Under stress conditions, L-tryptophan is recommended to be taken additionally in the form of a dietary supplement.
• Drugs with concomitant sedative action. These are the familiar "Valocordin", "Corvalol" and similar products based on phenobarbital and vegetable oils. Used as a sedative to help with sleep disorders, anxiety, agitation, and tachycardia of unspecified origin. Well tolerated, rarely have side effects, although with prolonged use they have a toxic effect on the liver. Therefore, they are contraindicated in pregnant women and patients with impaired kidney and liver function. This group also includes nootropics - drugs that are neurometabolic stimulants and have a specific effect on the nervous system. They increase the resistance of brain neurons to damaging factors, stimulate mental activity. A well-known representative is Piracetam, which is prescribed for depression, memory loss, demoralization, apathy, etc. Another drug for treating anxiety and stress is Glycine. It has a similar effect, in addition, it improves mood and normalizes sleep.
• Herbal medicines. In their composition - herbal remedies with the addition of chemically synthesized substances. These are mild sedative preparations based on extracts of St. John's wort, mint, lemon balm, hops, passionflower, etc. The most famous are Novo-Passit, Persen, Nervoflux. They are not addictive and do not provoke life-threatening conditions, even with an overdose.
• Prescription drugs. This group includes medicines that have a strong effect on the body, so it is strictly forbidden to use them uncontrollably. These are antidepressants prescribed by a psychiatrist. The course of treatment with them can reach several months. The most common serotonin reuptake blockers. They are prescribed for the treatment of prolonged stress and depression, including severe cases, to reduce feelings of anxiety, melancholy, lethargy. Strictly according to the prescription, the so-called heavy tranquilizers of the benzodiazepine series are also released. They have anxiolytic, sedative, hypnotic, muscle relaxant and anticonvulsant effects. These drugs have multiple side effects.
• OTC anxiolytics. Substances of strong action often have a side effect. During the reception, hypotension, arrhythmia, dry mouth, skin itching, etc. may occur, which doctors and pharmacists honestly warn patients about. For many years, scientists have been trying to create a selective anxiolytic that has the effectiveness of traditional benzodiazepine tranquilizers, but devoid of their inherent side effects. As a result of long-term developments in the laboratory of the State Research Institute of Pharmacology named after. V.V. Zakusov RAMS, a drug was created. The data was submitted to the WHO for consideration, as a result of which in 2012 it was decided to assign the international non-proprietary name Fabomotizol to Afobazole. This is the first Russian over-the-counter anxiolytic that received an international classification code. The drug really does not have a depressant effect on the central nervous system. It promotes the restoration of nerve cell receptors and protects neurons from damage, so that they can again do their job properly. This is a natural mechanism, so the “wadding effect” does not appear, the nervous system does not lose its sharpness and reaction speed.

The action of pharmacological agents may not appear immediately. On average, at least two weeks pass from the start of taking the drugs to the appearance of the effect, although acute manifestations of stress can be stopped immediately. Some patients notice positive changes earlier. The choice of medication for the treatment of severe stress is an extremely responsible procedure. The doctor takes into account a complex of factors: the severity of the disease, age, sensitivity to components, the effectiveness of previous treatment and even the patient's mood - after all, the vast majority of medicines are designed for long-term treatment and a strict regimen.