Hand trembling, sweating, nervousness, and a sense of discomfort, bad mood – who does not know the symptoms of one of the greatest pests of modern civilisation? And who does not want to know how to fight it?

Fight or run away!

Nowadays, stress has penetrated into every aspect of life – from school to our workplaces. The difficulty in fighting this tough opponent results from the fact that you fight not only against the negative circumstances, but also against yourself.

A stressful reaction to a violent, potentially dangerous factor is the so-called “fight-or-flight” response. In a potentially dangerous situation, the body releases large doses of hormones, including cortisol and adrenaline, which prepare our body for a possible fight. In everyday life, however, we are more often confronted with stalemate situations – conflicts at work, the need to pass a difficult exam, a demanding project – which are not solved by either escape or struggle. If we do not find a method for obtaining immediate help, the cumulating stress begins to have a long-term and negative impact on our psychophysical form.

The negative effects of stress

Long-term stress directly influences the quality of our everyday life. We are permanently tired and weakened. Some people may find it difficult to concentrate or experience a slow-down in reacting. You can also see a decrease in the efficiency of physical or intellectual work. Learners may find it difficult to remember information. This is usually accompanied by a negative mood – we lack motivation, feel discouraged and irritated.

Effective support in daily combat

Most methods of combating stress place an emphasis on restoring the psychophysical balance. The following can help eliminate the impact of stress: learning how to breathe consciously, meditation, walking, or practising a sport. A simple interpersonal contact, i.e. the help offered by the nearest and dearest – a conversation, a proposal to solve the problem, is also indispensable. Our body will also need dietary support – a high quality diet based on fibre, fruit and vegetables, and an optimum amount of water.

In search of immediate help, it is worth supporting the body with the beneficial effects of natural ingredients. In stressful situations – especially prolonged, when intellectual effort and concentration are required – the following substances with proven strengthening properties can help:

• Ashwagandha root extract (Withania somnifera L.) – it helps in coping with stress and maintains well-being during periods of mental and nervous tension, as well as periods of anxiety;
• Thyme-leafed gratiola (Bacopa monnieri L.) – it can have a positive effect on brain function and contribute to improving short- and long-term memory, as well as to increasing concentration and intelligence;
• Rose root (Rhodiolarosea L.) – it contributes to maintaining the optimum mental and cognitive activity and helps in coping with stress-induced symptoms such as headache and fatigue.

Who are stress preparations addressed to?

Commercially available preparations, such as Perceptin containing the above mentioned ingredients, may prove to be particularly helpful for people who:

– need to support their intellectual productivity,

– have problems with maintaining concentration, e.g. during the learning process,

– tired and weakened by stress.

1. Heszen I., Sęk H. Health and stress. Psychology. An academic handbook. J. Strelau, D. Dolinski (ed.), Gdańsk 2008, p. 681-734.
2. Łuczak A., Żołnierczyk-Zreda D. Work and stress. Occupational Safety. 2002; 10: 2-5
3. Potocka A., Mościcka A. Stress and ways of coping with it and eating habits among working people. Occupational Medicine. 2011; 62(4): 377-388.