What is stress?
Asked on: Sep 14, 2023 01:49 AM
Imagine you're a superhero. You have super strength, can fly, and have the power to save the world. But suddenly, a giant monster appears! Your heart starts racing, your palms get sweaty, and you feel a little bit like you just drank 10 cups of coffee. That's stress! It's your body's way of preparing you to fight or run away from danger. In our superhero scenario, it's pretty useful. But in real life, we often feel stressed even when there is no giant monster to fight.
Stress is like an alarm system for your body. When it senses danger - real or imagined - it sends out a bunch of signals that cause changes in your body. These might include faster heart rate, quick breathing, tense muscles and more alertness. This is all part of something called the 'fight or flight' response.
Now here comes the funny part: stress isn't always bad! Sometimes it can help us perform better under pressure or motivate us to do our best. But when stress becomes chronic - that's fancy talk for 'happening all the time' - it can have negative effects on our health.
In short, stress is like that annoying alarm clock that wakes you up in the morning. Sometimes it helps you get out of bed and start your day right; other times, it just makes you want to throw it against the wall!
Mayo Clinic: Stress symptoms
