Allostasis and Stress

As we head into the holidays Aniesa wanted to explore stress and what is referred to as allostasis. She explores the concept of the allostatic load and the impact this has on the body in both the short term and long term. Aniesa also discusses the role things like sleep and trauma can play in how we manage and cope with stress. Importantly, Aniesa talks about how we can all learn to manage our stress levels and take ownership of minimising the impact as much as possible.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Allostasis is the process of trying to achieve stability through physiological or behavioural change. This is usually in response to stress.
• Your allostatic load is your chronic exposure to fluctuating and increased stress levels.
• Stress produces a spike in adrenaline and after this initial spike, the body and you relax. But this cycle of high and low adrenaline has an impact on your body.
• There is an elevated risk of chronic disease and mental health disorders from those who have long-term elevated stress levels.
• There is a very strong connection between your allostatic load and things such as your class, finances, living situation and perceived discrimination.
• Sleep, exercise and a balanced diet are simple but can help your body manage stress.
• If we can take ownership of managing our stress and learn what works for us as individuals to manage stress then we can lessen the impact it has on us.

BEST MOMENTS

"It’s self-regulating so we’re trying to keep this constant state while we are under stress”

“This constant continued strain is really going to compromise your immune function”

“That’s going to affect your overall lifespan, your cognitive function and your well-being”

“There’s a real strong association between your allostatic load and your social demographic characteristics”

“We need to be proactive in managing our stress, we need to stay informed”

CONTACT METHOD

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ABOUT THE HOST

Aniesa completed her degree in Occupational Therapy at the University of Stellenbosch, in South Africa. She has since been focusing on pediatrics and sensory processing and integration. She has worked across a range of pediatric fields and has extensive experience in autism, specific learning difficulties, as well as anxiety and emotional regulation.

Aniesa has one teenage son with autism, and one with sensory difficulties. She herself was diagnosed at a late age as having ADHD and has found that understanding her neurodivergence has led to a greater connection with children and their parents.

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