but, as bains points out, the trouble with detecting someone’s stress is that people are good at masking it, which is like a defence mechanism to help us keep calm and carry on.
“we know that chronic stress, cortisol and a number of other factors have been implicated in so many other disorders, like anxiety and depression, but also in cardiovascular disease and
diabetes,” he says. “so chronic stress really seems to be this linchpin that is so important to try to understand.”
exercise is the most effective way to lower stress
bains and his team have also looked at people’s perceptions of control over stressful situations, and how that perception influences the stress response. this may vary from person to person, however it is all about the belief that regardless of the intensity of stress, you’re going to be ok. it’s a perception can also benefit your brain and your resilience to adversity.
so how can we decrease our vulnerability to stress?
“one of the reasons busy, successful people often exercise is to relieve their stress,” says bains, adding that there’s a component of control that helps you to feel that you are doing something to manage your stress. “the other part about exercise, which is fascinating, is that exercise releases and increases cortisol.”
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