Psychology

Do you notice a relationship between stress in your life and the functioning of your immune system? Do you think this may be why you and your classmates have a higher tendency to get ill during stressful times of the semester, such as midterms and final exams? How do you think you could counter those effects?

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ANSWER

Relationship between Stress and the Functioning of the Immune System

Stress is the physiological response of an individual to a stressor. Psychological stress can trigger numerous physiological responses, including but not limited to the endocrine, nervous, and immune system. Chronic stress has been linked with the suppression of the immune system by affects the immune system’s ability deal with antigens. When a person is stressed, the body tends to produce a hormone called a corticosteroid, which is considered a stress hormone and can affect the immune system’s normal functioning.

Personally, stressful situations tampers with my effective body functioning.  Stress lowers my ability to counter adverse situations. For example, it reduces the production of hormones that fight diseases and thus increased susceptibility to diseases. The examination period can be considered to be an acute stressor for most students. It leads to a physiological response that makes an individual susceptible to infections. The exam period is a highly tense period that puts pressure on any student. Durand, Barlow, and Hofmann’s (2019) study directly link stressful situations to lowered immune system functioning, thus making one susceptible to physical disorders. The tension and anxiety surrounding exams illicit adverse body outcomes.

Regular exercise is one of the approaches that a person experiencing stress can do to help lower stress and anxiety. Exercises helps to lower the body’s stress hormones, such as cortisol. This protects individuals from altered psychological outcomes. It also helps release endorphins, which improves a person’s mood and eases any pain that a person might be experiencing. Exercising also enhances a person’s sleep pattern, which is usually affected negatively by stress and anxiety. Another effective way of countering stress is by using supplements that promote stress and anxiety reduction.

Reference

Durand, V. M., Barlow, D. H., & Hofmann, S.G. (2019). Essentials of abnormal psychology. Cengage Learning.