What Is Stress? A Guide to Understanding and Managing Stress

According to the American Psychological Association, stress is “the physiological or psychological response to internal or external stressors”. Put more simply, stress is our body and mind's response to pressure. It's a natural response that has evolved to help us navigate threats and challenges in our lives. For example, it helps us respond quickly to dangerous situations by triggering our fight, flight or freeze response. Once the threat passes, our body settles back into a regulated, low-stress state. This kind of stress can be very useful. It helps us prepare for meaningful challenges, like doing a job interview or addressing a conflict with a loved one.