| Stress is a direct result of an individual’s assessment of the demands made on them by their environment, which are perceived as threatening and are reflected in the body’s physical responses i.e. Increased heart rate, muscle tension, increased blood pressure and perspiration, sweaty palms, dry mouth, chest palpitations, nausea and restlessness. |
In prehistoric times, it was important to deal with the physical threats all around us, and it was often necessary to make speedy judgements on a course of action in order to survive. For example, primitive man, confronted by an attacking dinosaur or a sabre toothed tiger, perceived, in such a threatening situation, that a demand for immediate action was necessary and that he needed to:
1. Stand and fight
2. Run
3. Hide
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| The body’s stress response, coupled with a heightened sense of awareness was an asset in these situations and helped primitive man survive the many dangers he faced throughout his life. |
| However, modern man, whose body’s stress responses are the same as those of his ancestor, faces ‘threatening’ situations of a completely different kind. These are triggered by modern day demands, such as: |
