Hans Selye (father of stress research) defined the “general adaptation syndrome (AAS)” (Zimbardo et al. 1983: 460), which describes stress as a state in which several symptoms coincide and burden the individual in the social, physiological and psychological areas. AAS divides this state into 3 phases: (1) “the alarm reaction” (ibid.), which provides resources to defend oneself against the stress and build up resistance (eustress), (2) “the phase of resistance” (ibid.461), in which resistance to the persistent and stressful effects is maintained (eustress) and (3) “the phase of exhaustion” (ibid.), which occurs when the phase of resistance has been maintained for too long and extreme states of exhaustion occur (distress). This can manifest itself in psychosomatic complaints, “cardiovascular diseases” (Bamberg et al. 2007: 6), “stomach problems […, but also] negative health behavior” (ibid.: 15). This can manifest itself in an unhealthy diet, restrictions on leisure activities and a reduction in social contacts. This is usually associated with anxiety, depression, refusal to work and other factors (cf. Hillmann et al. 2007: 866, Crapo 1987: 27f, Bamberg et al. 2007: 15, Mörike/Mergenthaler 1970: 205ff, Zimbardo et al. 1983: 460ff).
Nevertheless, stress is a vital factor for humans, as it promotes performance and resilience. Small stimuli throughout life maintain our resilience. Permanent stress, however, leads to harmless to severe damage to the human organism. In this context, the hormones of the adrenal cortex (corticosteroids) and the hormone “ACTH [der] pituitary gland” (Kleine/Rossmanith 2014: 28) play a decisive role. Among other things, the adrenal glands produce the hormones “adrenaline” (ibid.: 250) and “cortisol” (ibid.: 292). Adrenaline (stress reaction) is released particularly in phase 1, as it quickly provides large amounts of energy by releasing fat and sugar reserves from their stores and increases resistance above the normal level. It increases blood pressure, raises the heart rate, promotes oxygen supply to the body and reduces digestive processes. It is also an antagonist of insulin, which promotes the conversion of glycose into fats and inhibits the breakdown of fats. However, in the long term, i.e. from phase 2 onwards, “cortisol” (ibid.: 235f) (long-term stress, anti-inflammatory) takes over the task of adrenaline. In the long term, the excessive release of adrenaline leads to so-called Cushing’s disease (ibid.: 379), which is associated with extreme obesity (especially around the “torso” (ibid.: 386)), “muscle weakness […, and] high blood pressure” (ibid.), as well as mental disorders. The release of corticosteroids is regulated by the pituitary gland and vice versa (cf. Mörike/Mergenthaler 1970: 205ff, Kleine/Rossmanith 2014: 216):
“The formation and release of ACTH is in turn kept in check by the presence of corticoids in the blood. […] However, if the corticoid content decreases, ACTH production increases and stimulates corticoid production (feedback system).” (Mörike/Mergenthaler 1970: 206)
The adrenal cortexes need cholesterol to produce steroids (including cortisol), so elevated cholesterol levels can be a sign of elevated cortisol levels, which means that stress can play a decisive role in increasing the BMI (see Kleine/Rossmanith 2014: 18ff).
In this sense, stress is first and foremost a vital part of human or even “animal” life in general, as it can bring us to peak performance and can only become dangerous if “applied” to an excessive degree. So it is hardly surprising that more and more people tend to be overweight given the mass of negative reporting in the mass media, which is usually an exaggerated portrayal of much less important events. However, the effects of “overloading” people primarily serve pharmaceutical market interests, while coping with frustration through consumption benefits the entire entertainment and consumer industry. The keyword here is neoliberalism in its monetarist (specifically American) form.
Sources:
- Bamberg, Eva, Monika Keller, Claudia Wohlert and Annett Zeh, 2007: BGW-Stresskonzept – Das arbeitspsychologische Stressmodell. Hamburg: Berufsgenossenschaft für Gesundheitsdienst und Wohlfahrtspflege – BGW.
- Crapo, Lawrenze M., 1987: Hormones. The chemical messengers of the body. Heidelberg: Spektrum der Wissenschaft.
- Hillmann, Karl-Heinz, 2007: Dictionary of Sociology. Stuttgart: Verlag.
- Kleine, Bernhard and Winfried G. Rossmanith, 2014 (3rd ed.): Hormones and hormone systems. Textbook of endocrinology. Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Verlag.
- Mörike, Klaus D. and Walter Mergenthaler 1970: Biologie des Menschen. Heidelberg: Meyer Verlag.
- Zimbardo, Philip G., Wilhelm F. Angermeier, Johannes C. Brengelmann and Thomas J. Thiekötter, 1983: Psychology. Berlin/Heidelberg/New York/Tokyo: Springer Verlag.
