The circadian cycle is our body’s natural 24-hour clock which tells our body when to wake up, when to eat, time for sleep and time for other activities to do.
This Circadian cycle is mainly controlled by light and darkness- so we feel awake in the day and sleepy at night.
Stress is the natural response of the body which develops when we are having any type of challenge, threat and it triggers our physical, mental and emotional reaction to deal with the situation.
So stress is also called as Fight or Flight response to any demandable situation.
Sometime stress is very useful to us .Little stress must be develop by our brain so that it helps in fulfilling’s our work on time ,helps in achieving good result by developing healthy competitive nature in person but off course too much of stress or long lasting stress can harmful for our health
Stress is the body’s natural response to any demand, challenge, or threat. It triggers physical, emotional, and mental reactions that prepare us to deal with the situation (often called the “fight or flight” response).
Functions of the Circadian cycle:-
• Sleep-Wake Cycles: The primary function is to regulate the natural pattern of sleepiness and alertness over a 24-hour period.
• Metabolic Regulation: It controls the timing of processes like glucose metabolism and digestion.
• Other Physiological Processes: It also influences body temperature, appetite, and immune function.
How Circadian Cycle Disruption Leads to Stress
1. Sleep and Mood:
Disruptions in the circadian cycle , such as from traveling across time zones will cause sleep disorders like jet lag and working night shifts will cause work sleep disorder. Poor sleep increases feelings of stress and negative emotional reactivity.
2. Misalignment of Rhythms:
The circadian cycle regulates many bodily rhythms, including sleep, hormone release, and metabolism. The misaligned circadian cycle can disrupt these rhythms, leading to many physiological dysfunction, including an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular issues, and potentially even some types of cancer that contributes to stress.
3.Neurochemical Changes:
Circadian cycle disruption can affect the release of key neurotransmitters and alter the expression of genes in brain regions responsible for mood and stress regulation.
The Vicious Cycle
• Stress Impacts Circadian Rhythms:
Chronic stress can stimulates dysregulation of the circadian cycle and creating a feedback loop where stress worsens the circadian cycle disruption.
• Circadian cycle disruption Worsens Stress:
Conversely, disrupted circadian cycle and sleep can lead to increased stress and negative emotional responses.
Hence we come to know that circadian cycle and stress are interconnected and their interconnection can lead to a number of harmful physiological and psychological effects, including: Increased anxiety and depression, Cognitive impairments, metabolic dysfunction and weight gain, and increased risk of chronic diseases over the long term.
Than question arises…How to balance Circadian cycle and stress?
– Expose your body for 15 min to morning sunlight to set your body clock.
– Wake up and sleep daily on same time on weekends as well as on weekdays.
– Do yoga, meditation, any activity such as gardening, swimming, singing which gives you happiness…it will help in relieving stress and your circadian cycle will become better.
– Reduce the exposure to blue light.
– Cut the intake of caffeinated drinks
– Eat healthy and balanced foods.
– Keep yourself hydrated.