Psychological stress and health

Author: Geng Xingyong
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-08-01
Features: 3 Defense Mechanisms of the Mind
If you inflate a balloon, it will expand due to the pressure it experiences. However, if you continue to inflate it without limit, it will keep expanding until it bursts. If we consider our body as that balloon and the expansion caused by the air pressure as the pressure we feel from external stimuli, then just as a balloon has a limit to how much pressure it can withstand, our body also has a limit to how much pressure it can handle. When psychological stress exceeds this limit, it can lead to various physiological and psychological symptoms. Each of us has a set of psychological defense mechanisms to cope with stress, which include the following processes.
When exposed to strong stimuli, our minds first quickly assess the danger. For example, while driving fast, suddenly seeing pedestrians crossing the road ahead will immediately trigger the thought of "danger" in your mind. This assessment is often unconscious and ends within a very short time. Once the danger of the external stimulus is recognized, preparations are made to respond to the danger. For instance, if you are startled by a pedestrian crossing the road, you will immediately have physiological and psychological reactions. Physiologically, this may manifest as increased adrenaline secretion, faster breathing rate, accelerated heart rate, and tense muscles throughout the body. Psychologically, it may manifest as heightened alertness and concentration, as well as a narrowed scope of awareness.
If the external danger stimulus does not disappear, our body and mind will maintain this emergency response. In the example above, the driver's tense reaction will only disappear after taking action to avoid the pedestrian and the danger is eliminated. A highly tense emergency state cannot be maintained for long. When the threatening external stimulus disappears, our body will also respond accordingly, with adrenaline levels decreasing, muscles relaxing, breathing returning to normal, and the heart rate stabilizing. The tense emotions will also subside, and the sense of stress will gradually decrease until it finally disappears.
However, if the external stimulus that causes stress is not, our body and mind will continue to maintain this emergency response until we can no longer endure it, leading to various abnormal reactions and even causing illness. For those with better psychological qualities, due to their rich abilities and experience, they are better equipped to handle various difficulties, making their resistance to psychological stress stronger. On the other hand, those with weaker willpower and less experience will become very tense upon encountering problems they cannot solve.