Stress in this context is not the natural transient physiological and emotional response which we have to real danger. Stress in this context refers to a sustained and excessive physiological response to regular and/or benign demands.
The nature of our responses to stressful situations, can change when stress is experienced frequently. Frequent exposure to stress, may increase general levels of agitation and anxiety, and promote the tendency to anticipate difficulty or negative outcomes and catastrophise. This state of vigilance can trigger a cascade of physiological and neurobiological responses, which lower sensory thresholds, making us more reactive and likely to perceive situations as stressful. This can become a vicious cycle.
Habitual psychophysiological patterns, like the chronic stress responses described above, are maladaptive. The physiological wear and tear caused by chronic stress is called allostasis. Allostatic load is a measurement of physiological wear and tear.
There is an inherent paradox in the physiological adaptation to stress which is perhaps best summed up by Bruce McEwen who first used these terms:
‘The primary hormonal mediators of the stress response, glucocorticoids (cortisol) and catecholamines (adrenalin), have both protective and damaging effects on the body. In the short run they are essential for adaptation, maintenance of homeostasis and survival (allostasis). Yet, over longer time intervals, they exact a cost (allostatic load) that can accelerate disease processes. The concepts of allostasis and allostatic load centre around the brain as interpreter and responder to environmental challenges and as a target of those
challenges’
Amongst the various models which map stress – McEwan’s concept of allostasis is a good fit for MESHWORK, because it gives a biologically realistic account of complex multi-system adaptations to stress. Furthermore, the level of allostatic load has profound consequences for all aspects of embodiment including fascial stiffness, resting muscle tone, postural habits, breathing patterns and interoception. Each of these domains interact with related physiological, cognitive and emotional systems and have the potential to amplify allostatic load.
Our nervous system is equipped with sensitive interoceptive networks which detect physiological responses to stress. Through interoception, the organism becomes aware (this can occur at a subconscious level) of an increase in allostatic load we have the potential to further amplify or reduce this allostatic load.
FEATURED IMAGE:
Bruce McEwen. Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators (1998).