Understanding how our bodies react to stress can be incredibly empowering. By learning about the physiological stress response, we can take proactive steps to manage stress and improve our overall well-being.
What Happens When We’re Stressed?
Imagine you’re walking through a forest and suddenly, a wild animal appears. Instantly, your body switches into “fight or flight” mode.Â
This response is your body’s primitive, automatic, inbuilt system designed to protect you from danger.Â
Here’s a simple breakdown:
  1.   The Alarm: Your brain registers danger and signals your adrenal glands to release adrenaline and cortisol, stress hormones that prepare your body to take action.
  2.   The Response: Adrenaline increases your heart rate, elevates your blood pressure, and boosts energy supplies. Cortisol, the primary stress hormone, increases sugars in the bloodstream and enhances your brain’s use of glucose. 
  3.   The Effect: These hormonal changes make you more alert, focused, and physically ready to respond to the threat.
Your stress triggers are more likely to be psychological—like looming deadlines or personal conflicts—rather than physical threats, like a bear. However, our bodies react much in the same way. This can be problematic because prolonged stress exposure can lead to a variety of health issues, including anxiety, depression, digestive problems, and heart disease.
Understanding the stress response is the first step in becoming empowered to identify your stressors and take proactive measures to manage them. Recognizing when your body is in “fight or flight” mode can help you choose how to respond—perhaps by stepping away, taking a few deep breaths, or engaging in a stress-relief activity.
