stress response
Body's alarm system
The stress response is the body's physiological reaction to perceived threats or challenges—the cascade of hormones and physical changes that prepare you to fight, flee, or freeze.
Heart rate increases, muscles tense, and digestion slows.
The response evolved for immediate physical dangers but activates for modern stressors too: Her stress response kicked in before the job interview.
Chronic activation can damage health.
- hypothalamusSubthalamic regulatory brain region
- cortisolAdrenal steroid regulating stress
- adrenalineEmergency response hormone
- heart racingRapid cardiac rhythm
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
amygdala · resilience · coping mechanism · deep breathing · vagus nerve · emotional regulation · cardiovascular disease · burnout · adrenal fatigue · nervous breakdown · autonomic nervous system · exercise · social conflict · glucocorticoids · immune suppression · panic attack · insomnia · sympathetic nervous system
- animal behavioranimal behavior, instincts, learned behavior, conditioning, social behavior
- body statesresting state, sleep state, wakefulness, exhaustion, hunger
- learned responsesconditioned reflex, classical conditioning, salivation, aversion, avoidance
- Arousal Statesarousal, alertness, excitement, vigilance, wakefulness
- gut-brainvagus nerve, second brain, neural pathways, gut feelings, neurotransmitters
- psychoneuroimmunologycortisol, immune function, cytokines, mind-body connection, hypothalamus
stress responserelaxation response
Body's stress-reversing state
relaxation · calm · homeostasis · recovery mode · deactivation
stress responserecovery phase
Stage of returning to normal
regeneration · contentment · thriving · energy conservation · flourishing
stress responserelaxation
State of being unwound
calm · tranquility · serenity · peace of mind · equanimity