Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers

Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers explores the leading causes of stress and how to keep it under control, as well as the biological science behind stress, which can be a catalyst for performance in the short term, but a potential threat in the long run.

The human body is remarkable in many ways. Everything that makes up our mind is wired in a way that connects everything within us and with the outside world. So if one part of us feels as if something dangerous or uncomfortable is happening, our brain will perceive it as a stressful situation. That’s because we are programmed to survive in every circumstance.

Just like animals, we perceive stress as a response to a crisis situation, and it helps us act and react to the threats around us. However, our brain can self-induce a crisis situation if we perceive it that way, even though there is no threat around. This can be very harmful for our body. We are not made to survive the constant pressure of stress and the state of alert caused by danger.

Since our biggest source of stress is psychological, we have to learn how to deal with it better. As such, try to not perceive life situations like being stuck in traffic, having a close deadline, fighting with a loved one, like a crisis and a stressful situation. Instead, think of them like occurrences that will pass soon and don’t let your emotions run your thoughts for you. Take charge of them and minimize your brain’s response to cut down on your stress levels.

The autonomic nervous system is another outstanding function in our body which helps us respond and recover from stress. Let’s see how! First thing first, this system has two parts, which work on opposite functions. The first part is called the sympathetic nervous system. It is responsible for triggering stress during real, or imaginary, situations of crisis. This system alarms us that a threat is hovering on us. Or that something arousal or something that will make us become very active and awake is happening. Therefore, this system tells us that we should act accordingly by inducing a little bit of stress. Most commonly, this system triggers stress during flight, fright, fight, and during sex. On the other hand, the parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for the calm and the vegetative activities. This system promotes the digestive function, growth, energy storage, and other similar functions. Both of these systems activates very quickly to ensure survival. When they are awake, the brain sends signals to the entire body through blood vessels, reaching every organ, muscle and gland. Moreover, it releases specific hormones, which have long term effects…