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Stress Response System Maturation

Meaning

Stress response system maturation is the process of developing a robust, flexible, and appropriately sensitive Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, allowing for a healthy and proportional physiological reaction to stressors followed by a rapid return to baseline. A mature system avoids both chronic over-activation and blunted responsiveness, which are hallmarks of HPA axis dysfunction linked to chronic disease and hormonal imbalance. This is a crucial element of long-term emotional and physical resilience.