Stress is a natural response to threats from "summary" of The Stress-Proof Brain by Melanie Greenberg
When you're faced with a threat, whether real or perceived, your body goes into a state of high alert - what we commonly refer to as stress. This stress response is your body's way of preparing you to face the danger at hand. Your heart rate increases, your muscles tense up, and your senses sharpen, all in an effort to help you survive the threat. This is a natural and adaptive response that has been honed over years of evolution, designed to keep you safe in the face of danger.
However, in today's world, we are no longer faced with the same types of threats our ancestors were. Instead of being chased by predators, we are now faced with work deadlines, relationship problems, and financial worries. While these may not be life-threatening in the same way as a predator, our bodies still respond to them in the same way - with the stress response. This can lead to chronic stress, which can have negative effects on both our physical and mental health.
Understanding that stress is a natural response to threats is the first step in learning how to manage it. By recognizing that your body is simply trying to keep you safe, you can begin to work with your body, rather than against it. Instead of trying to suppress or ignore your stress, you can learn to acknowledge it and find healthy ways to cope with it. This might include things like deep breathing, meditation, exercise, or talking to a friend.
By reframing how you think about stress, you can begin to build resilience and develop a stress-proof brain. This doesn't mean that you will never experience stress again - after all, it is a natural response to threats. But by learning how to work with your body's natural responses, you can begin to minimize the negative effects of stress and live a happier, healthier life.
