Stress is a normal human response. It happens to everyone. The human body is hardwired to manage stress, that means to experience and react to it. When we face challenges and difficult events (stressors), our body initiates a biological response, which can be physical, emotional and mental.
Are responses like these familiar to you? Does your heart beat fast in times of stress or crisis? Does your breathing get shallow? Does your body tremble? Do you feel confused, disoriented, anxious, panicky or helpless? That is the natural stress response: these reactions can be calmed and changed on the spot if you follow the 5 steps of EmotionAid®.
The autonomic nervous system controls our body functions, like heart rate, breathing, digestion and sleep, as well as our capacity to relate to others. It helps our body adjust to new situations. Its built-in stress response supports the body facing stressful situations. Stress can evoke a stimulating response, keeping us alert, motivated and ready to manage the challenge. For example, if we have an important test coming up, the stress response will help our body and mind prepare (work harder, stay awake longer, etc.). But stress becomes a problem when stressors continue without relief or periods of relaxation, or when different stressors accumulate. When we experience long-term (chronic) stress, continued activation of the stress response dysregulates our autonomic nervous system. Stress and trauma impact our physiology on a daily basis and we may begin to suffer from a variety of adverse symptoms at the physical or emotional level or from developing behavioral changes.
Just as we have physical first aid, we need emotional first aid – ‘EmotionAid®’ to stay regulated in our automatic nervous system and ensure our optimum functioning and wellbeing. EmotionAid® is the term we chose to best describe the process. Today, we understand that effectively managing stress requires addressing and regulating the autonomic nervous system, making EmotionAid® an essential and precise tool for achieving this balance.
