Tag: trauma and brain chemistry

Stress is an unavoidable part of human life, triggered by both external circumstances and internal interpretations. While short bursts of acute stress can be adaptive and even lifesaving, chronic stress—when prolonged and unrelenting—poses a grave threat to neurological health and overall well-being. The stress response begins in the brain, orchestrated primarily by the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. This triad of brain structures governs the release of cortisol, the primary stress hormone that helps the body respond to perceived threats. Yet, when stress becomes chronic, this adaptive mechanism backfires, leading to dysregulation across multiple brain systems.