Symptoms of this phase are such things as chest pains, abdominal pain, migraine, PMT, Colds and Flu, persistent anxiety, insomnia, loss of libido, eczema, wheezing, alcoholism, and depression. Stress and Herbal Adaptogens Stress is believed to trigger 70% of visits to doctors, and 85% of serious illnesses (UK HSE stress statistics).So what is exactly happening to the body when it is reacting in this way. The first stage of stress is the acute phase, the alarm reaction; there is that stimulus, be it emotional or physical that provokes the body into stress. The nervous system and endocrine system in the body are sending messages and releasing hormones such as adrenaline and corticosteroids, which enable the body to become hyper-aware and able to respond to. Well we know the symptoms- churning stomach, sweating, racing heart, aching head, neck, jaw, disturbed sleep, confused thinking, clenched jaw or fist.

And then the second phase, when the acute phase has struck over and over, next the body steps up into the resistance stage, here the body is making an effort to manage and adjust.