Stress and Performance
Article by L. John Mason, Ph.D.
Effects of Stress on Performance
Too much stress can contribute to health problems. This is not a new statement. Stress can
also reduce your ability to perform at the highest levels. The negative effects of stress can
impact profitability and quality of life.
The Physical response:
The Stress Response will:
Increase heart rate, speed breathing or you might hold your breath, tightens muscle to
prepare to fight or to flee, directs blood to brain and major muscles (away from digestion,
hands/feet, Reproductive organs), releases stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline,
slows or stops digestion, causes the brain to be more reactive/less thoughtful, increases
perspiration, reduces immune system response. Any of these systems can become your
habitual way to respond to stressful situations.
Symptoms of Stress can include:
Tension headaches, neck/back/shoulder pain, tight jaw, TMJ problems, sleeping problems,
fatigue, loss of concentration, learning problems can increase, irregular or rapid heart rate,
migraine headaches, poor circulation, Raynaud Syndrome, high blood pressure, sexual
dysfunction (in men and women), digestive problems, upset stomach, ulcers, colitis,
hormone imbalances, reduction of immune system function, over reaction by immune
system (allergies or autoimmune diseases worse), increased asthma activity, increased
aging rate, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, poor habit control, over-eating, low
energy, prone to accidents or mistakes, can impair communication, poor performance, etc.
It is not so much the amount of stress, but how you respond to it. Some people thrive on
stress and may be addicted to the adrenaline rush that accompanies high stress or
dangerous activities. Most people develop a “habit pattern” from an early age as a response
