Stress Less

What is stress?

Stress is the naturally occurring emotional/bodily reaction to life’s physical, psychological or emotional
demands.

Stress is what you feel when you have to handle more than you are used to. When you are stressed, your body responds as though you are in danger. It makes hormones that speed up your heart, make you breathe faster, and give you a burst of energy. This is called the "fight-or-flight" stress response.

Some stress is normal and even useful, this is called Eustress. It can help if you need to work hard or react quickly. For example, it can help you win a race or finish an important job on time. But if stress happens too often or lasts too long, it can have bad effects. The “bad” stress is called Distress.

Everyone responds to stress differently. Some people seem to stand up to or bounce back from stress better than others, and some even seem to thrive on stress. Stress can affect you both immediately (acute stress) and long-term (chronic stress). Chronic or long term stress can have a negative impact on your health.

Next — Causes of Stress