What is stress?
Thousands of years ago, the human body developed the crucial survival mechanism of being able to react quickly in a dangerous situation (e.g. if attacked by a wild animal). The body reacts by producing adrenaline that prepares the body for physical action - it's often called the "fight or flight" response.
When faced with a difficult situation in the modern world, our bodies still react in much the same way. However, in today's world, starting a fight or running away are not usually suitable solutions to the problems we face in our lives! This means, when we feel that things are getting on top of us, our adrenaline levels get stuck in a constant state of emergency - this can cause feelings of physical or mental discomfort. This is stress.
Too much stress can be harmful to your health and well-being.
To find out if you're stressed, have a look at the typical symptoms in the stressed? section.
