Stress Awareness

Stress is a typical human reaction that happens to everyone.

Stress can be defined as any type of change that causes physical, emotional or psychological strain (WHO). Stress is your body's response to anything that requires attention or action. In fact, the human brain is designed to experience stress, react, and adapt to it. This adaptation and growth process in the brain is called neuroplasticity - the brain's ability to modify, change, and adapt both structure and function throughout life and in response to experience. 

Stress responses help our brain and body to adjust to new situations. Stress can be positive (called eustress), keeping us alert, motivated and ready to avoid danger. For example, if you have an important test coming up, a stress response might help you to be more alert. 
Stress becomes a problem when stressors continue and the brain adaptation process is overwhelmed (called distress). Distress occurs in the form of acute stress, acute stress disorder, and chronic stress.Compromised recovery and an overactive nervous system can create altered physical, emotional, cognitive and behavioral responses. 

The feeling of stress is subjective. The threat can be real or imagined; it’s the perception of threat that triggers the stress response. Only the person experiencing it can determine with a self- assessment whether it's present and how severe it feels.

Ongoing stress reactions can interfere with productivity, relationships and health.