What is stress

The experience we all have when we are alarmed by a bump in the night or your boss unexpectedly calls your name in a meeting includes rapid heartbeat, dilated pupils, sweating and increased alertness. Often called the “fight or flight” response, this experience was and sometimes still is vital to survival. It is an inborn response essential to the species and allowing us to deal with dangerous circumstances.

But when the stress response is experienced too dramatically or over too long a time it can literally be dangerous to our health. Most of the organ systems are aroused during the stress response. This is natural and necessary. When these organ systems are aroused repeatedly through chronic activation of the stress response, harm to the heart, brain or immune system may occur.