Understanding Stress

This video clip explains the origins and nature of stress, and its impact on the body.

When we feel threatened, the primitive part of our brain releases stress chemicals like adrenaline and cortisol. These help us get ready to either fight or run away—a response called fight or flight. This was useful for early humans facing physical danger.

Today, most threats aren’t physical. They're more about our self-esteem, relationships, or mental wellbeing. In these cases, the fight–flight response isn't always helpful.

When we sense a challenge (like giving a presentation or going to an interview), our body reacts:

• Heart beats faster
• Breathing speeds up
• Muscles tighten
• Digestion and immune systems slow down
• It’s harder to focus

This can help us perform - if the stress is manageable. After the challenge, our body calms down and returns to normal.

But if we feel massively overwhelmed or helpless, stress chemicals stay in our system with no outlet. This can:

• Impair our ability to perform
• Hurt memory and learning
• Raise blood pressure and cholesterol
• Lower our ability to cope
• Lead to anxiety and depression

In this high-stress state, even small problems can feel like too much.

“If you stress daily, you need to de-stress daily. It’s that simple”