Quick Brews - Episode 17 - Stress

Stress. Our body and mind’s natural reaction to pressure. Being triggered when we experience something new or unexpected that threatens our sense of self or when we feel we have little control over a situation.

Stress can be experienced anywhere and at any time in many different scenarios, in this episode we talk about when and where it can happen, the impact that it has and our own personal experiences. 

When we encounter stress, our body produces stress hormones that trigger a fight or flight response and activate our immune system. This helps us respond quickly to dangerous situations.

Sometimes, this stress response can be useful: it can help us push through fear or pain so we can run a marathon or deliver a speech, for example. Our stress hormones will usually return to normal quickly once the stressful event is over, and there won’t be any lasting effects.

However, too much stress can cause negative effects. It can leave us in a permanent stage of fight or flight, leaving us overwhelmed or unable to cope. Long term, this can affect our physical and mental health.

We all deal with stress differently. Our ability to cope can depend on our genetics, early life events, personality and social and economic circumstances.

We talk about if stress can be a good thing and how important it is not to ignore it. We discuss our own experiences and ways to manage and cope with stress. 

The bottom line is, don’t just accept stress, if it’s becoming too much, please reach out and get support. Extreme stress can lead to burnout, mental health issues and in some extreme circumstances, suicidal thoughts. Please get support before it gets too much. (Check out our website for support networks and advice).