(Adapted from Nixon, P.G.F. (1989). Human functions and the
Heart. In Seedhouse, D. and Cribb, A. (eds.) Changing Ideas in Health
Care. New York: John Wile and Sons)
In Eustress, the good kind of stress, where your challenges
and your skills are equally matched, you are in an anabolic state.
Anabolic State
- Decreased synthesis of protein, fat, carbs (growth, energy storage)
- decreased breakdown of protein, fat, carbohydrate
- Increased production of cells for immune system (WBC's of thymus and bone
marrow)
- Increased bone repair
- Increase in sexual processes (Cellular, hormonal, psychological)
- Improved digestion
When your challenges and skills are not equally matched and your challenges
are greater than your skills, you approach and enter a catabolic state wherein
your body basically begins to cannibalize itself averting and utilizing
available resources for survival.
Catabolic State
- Halt in synthesis of protein, fat and carbohydrate
- Increased breakdown of protein, free fatty acids, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
for energy
- Increased production of RBC and liver enzymes for energy
- Decreased repair and replacement of cells with normally high turn-over
(gut, skin, etc.)
- Decreased production of cells for immune system (thymus shrinks,
circulating white cells decrease)
- Decreased sexual processes
- Increased blood pressure, cardiac output
- Increased salt and water retention
- Impaired digestion