What is stress: myths and physiology of the phenomenon

The Myth of Lack of Time: A Stress-Related Belief

There is a popular belief that we are stressed due to time pressure. Following this logic, it would be hard to explain why an appointment with a professional causes stress even though we are on vacation. Therefore, this situation is often experienced as stressful for many, even when time pressure is absent. Sonia Lupien confirms that stress is not the result of time pressure but rather a result of factors that will be explained in the next paragraph. Thus, when we delve deeper into our stressors, we can become aware that it is not the pressure of time that is the source of our stress, but only the impression of losing control over our time. 

So what is stress? [1]

There are four characteristics that cause stress, known by the acronym "CINE":

C: Low Control

That is, when we feel like we have little or no control over a situation. What matters is the person's feeling and not the objective reality. For example, a caregiver might have control over the decision to accommodate their loved one, but for various reasons (grief, value conflict, etc.), they might feel like they have no control over this decision. It is this feeling of lack of control that generates a stress response. 

I: Unpredictability

When the situation is unforeseen or unpredictable. For example, a caregiver was supposed to go on a trip, but the respite center that was scheduled to host their loved one cancels the stay a few days before their departure.

N: Novelty

When the situation is new (facing a situation a person has never experienced before). For example, the person being cared for spends their first day at a day center.

E: Ego Threatened

When the ego (personality) is threatened by the situation or the person feels that their abilities are being doubted. For example, someone critiques the way a caregiver is involved in the relationship with their loved one. The feeling of a knot in the stomach that can be experienced is a stress response.

Thus, for a situation to generate a stress response, it should include at least one of the characteristics mentioned above.

Stress is a very strong biological response of the body and is difficult to ignore. Stress can manifest at the level of thoughts (mental) and also in the body. This powerful reaction is not new. The stress response enabled humans to survive in the era of mammoths. However, the part of the brain that generates this response has not evolved since the disappearance of mammoths. Thus, the primary function of the human brain is to detect danger so that the body, driven by a surge of adrenaline and cortisol, can react effectively and ensure the survival of the species. The problem is that the human brain does not distinguish between the supreme danger that threatened prehistoric humans confronting a mammoth and the threat posed to a person by their loved one being evaluated by an uncooperative specialist doctor. So, whether it's a mammoth or an unsympathetic specialist doctor, for the brain, it's the same thing, it ensures that the body reacts to the threat.