Stress Resilience Systems encompass the integrated neuroendocrine, autonomic, and cellular mechanisms that allow an organism to effectively adapt to, recover from, and be less negatively impacted by acute or chronic stressors. In the hormonal context, this primarily involves the efficient, time-limited activation and subsequent deactivation of the HPA axis and sympathetic nervous system. High resilience correlates with better long-term metabolic and psychological health.
Origin
This concept bridges endocrinology, psychology, and immunology, focusing on the body’s capacity to return to baseline function following perturbation. ‘Resilience’ implies the ability to bounce back, supported by finely tuned feedback loops that manage glucocorticoid signaling. It is an evolution of stress response theory focusing on adaptive capacity.
Mechanism
The core mechanism involves rapid HPA axis feedback inhibition mediated by sufficient glucocorticoid receptor signaling in the hippocampus and hypothalamus, which terminates excessive cortisol exposure. Simultaneously, efficient autonomic nervous system switching from sympathetic dominance back to parasympathetic tone is crucial for systemic restoration. Maintaining the sensitivity of these regulatory checkpoints ensures that acute stress does not translate into chronic endocrine pathology.
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