Articles
Chronic stress puts your health at risk
When the natural stress response goes haywire
When the natural stress response goes wild
Why you react to life stressors the way you do
Content
Understanding the natural stress response
When the natural stress response becomes overactive
Why you react to stress the way you do
Learning to react to stress in a healthy way
When to ask for help
Living well with stress
When the natural stress response goes wild
Why you react to life stressors the way you do
Content
Understanding the natural stress response
When the natural stress response becomes overactive
Why you react to stress the way you do
Learning to react to stress in a healthy way
When to ask for help
Living well with stress
Why you react to stress the way you do
Your reaction to a potentially stressful event is different from everyone else's. How you react to your life stressors is affected by your genetics and your life experiences. The demands of life also play a role.
- Genes. Your genes help shape how you react to stress. This is why some people are naturally laid-back, while others tend to respond quickly to even the slightest stressor.
- Life experiences. Your life experiences also shape how you respond to stressors. For example, people who have experienced trauma may react more strongly to stress than those who have not. Examples of trauma include experiencing abuse or neglect as a child or being in a car accident. People in the military, police officers, firefighters, and people who have lived through violent crime all may react more strongly to stress based on their experiences.
- Life's demands. Day-to-day pressures also can put you in a constant state of alert. Thinking about what happened during the day or worrying about what might happen tomorrow can make your brain think it needs to be on guard all the time. This can lead to changes in your brain that keep you constantly focused on the things that are causing you stress.
