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Stress Response and Wellness

Meaning

Stress Response and Wellness describes the interconnected, dynamic relationship between the body’s physiological reaction to perceived threats, known as stressors, and the overall state of physical, hormonal, and mental health. The acute stress response, primarily mediated by the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, is an essential, adaptive survival mechanism. However, chronic, sustained activation can lead to profound systemic hormonal dysregulation and a significant decline in overall wellness and resilience. Conversely, optimizing wellness inherently enhances the body’s capacity to return to homeostasis quickly after any stressor.