BEFRIENDING STRESS As a Path Home to Ourselves WEEK 3/6 CHRONIC STRESS on the Human Body? Pt.2
Mar 18, 2026
Welcome!
This is Part 2 of Week 3's exploration into What is Stress in the Human Body?
In Part 1 we were able to view a high level overview of the intent of what our balanced Sympathetic Stress response is working towards supporting us in, through Mobilizing Energy.
Here, In Part 2 we will shift our curiosity to a high level overview of what happens as our Sympathetic Stress response becomes stuck in a "ON/GO" position, a prolonged, chronic, imbalanced, or over activated state.
Before we get started as to what Imbalanced/ Chronic Stress looks like in the body, let's first understand WHY we may get there.
EFFECTS OF TRAUMA (ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCE), PAIN, OR REPEATED STRESSORS
All Stress Responses form, are from, or flow out a Human motivation.
In efforts to meet the demand of a real or perceived;
Pleasure Seeking (DESIRE to meet more Core Needs).
Dream, want, inspiration, interest, craving, core need.
or in the face of a;
Pain Avoidance (AVERSION to lose Less of our Core Needs).
Obstacle, adversity, challenge, constraint, limited resource, energy tax/draw, discomfort, STRESSOR/PAIN, loss, or unmet need.
We activate our Sympathetic Stress Response.
Sometimes these motivations can become so strong, either by circumstance, or by conscious, or unconscious choice, they keep our sympathetic nervous system in the "ON" position, and eventually pull us out of regulated and natural balance.
What is Dysregulated Autonomic Nervous System?
A Dysregulated Nervous system is a Sympathetic Stress response stuck in over-activation.
Steven Porges through his Polyvagal Theory, explains how NEUROCEPTION (Our nervous systems ability to accurately perceive threat) can sometimes become inaccurate.
We may fail to detect danger, or we may detect danger when there is none. We may incorrectly, or inaccurately perceive the appropriate level of risk for the present moment experience.
In cases of uncertainty our MINDBODY Nervous system defaults to it's best known/remembered assumptions, predictions, and beliefs. Older defence circuits can be triggered out of proportion to the current circumstances, and our nervous system can become over activated, or if prolonged, stuck in fight-or-flight mode or immobilization.
Carrying these past fear learnings into the present, our Threat Detection system (Amygdala Circuit and Nueropathways of danger adaptability) become faulty, out of tune, or uncalibrated.
Our Amygdala trip wire, becomes over activated, over sensitive, hyper vigilant in arousal. Disproportionate, over compensative in relation to the present moment.
Ultimately resulting in an over adaptation in MINDBODY Biology, and behaviours.
A dysregulated system stays on high alert and primed for action, it may react quicker, and go into a more extreme survival mode before our rational, self regulating brain/body can balance the situation back to a state of safety and security.
This imbalanced response often becoming unhelpful, unhealthy, self limiting, self sabatoging, and even self destructive towards us meeting our goals and dreams.
UNDERSTANDING CHRONIC STRESS
CHRONIC STRESS when real or perceived stressors are extreme, severe, don’t let up, prolonged, our body spends a disproportionate amount of time and activity spent in a state of Sympathetic Stress response. Our autonomic nervous system experiences an imbalance of sympathetic nervous system dominance.
What happens when our Nervous system is constantly exposed to a real or perceived stressful environment, our body remain in the activated state of our Sympathetic Activation/ Stress response system (The “ON, GO, GAS PEDAL” stays pushed down.)
When our stress/ fear response, self protective. self defensive systems are repeatedly or chronically engaged and activated, bodily systems can become stuck in certain maladaptive states.
Without the ability to return to parasympathetic state of baseline calm and rest, contributes to an imbalance in our natural and healthy organ and bodily functions, and eventually can lead to exhaustion, burnout, sickness, illness or disease.
Steven Porges and his Polyvagal Theory theorizes that under prolonged stress our Nervous system moves through three common Stress Response stages:
1. Healthy balanced and regulated social engagement state. (Ventral Vagal State)
2. Stress Response Activation to meet the stressor. (Sympathetic State)
3. Prolonged Resistance leads to a state of Exhaustion, a last resort survival mode, shut down, in collapse/immobilization. (Parasympathetic Dorsal Vagal State).
Now that we have an overview of the WHY we can get pulled into this imbalanced state. Let's look at what happens with the Human MINDBODY Nervous & Organ System as a result of disproportionate time spent in the Sympathetic Stress Response.
WHAT IS Imbalanced / Maladaptive Sympathetic Stress Response (Nuerobiology of Anxiety & Chronic Stress)?
Following the same format of Core Intentions of the Sympathetic Stress Response as we reviewed in Part 1, in this post we will explore together in slightly more detail, what chemical, hormonal, and bodily chain of events occur during our Activation and Sympathetic Stress Response, as well as what occurs in the instances it get's stuck in the Chronic, On position.
Although complex, it is a highly predictable sequence of coordinated, and syncronized BRAIN/BODY biological, chemical, hormonal and physiological shifts within our organ systems to support in energy production, delivery, utilization, and replenishment.
1. MAKE MORE ENERGY
2. DELIVER MORE ENERGY
3. USE MORE ENERGY
4. CONSERVE MORE ENERGY
INITIAL SEQUENCE OF STRESS HORMONES via the HPA AXIS during ACUTE STRESS RESPONSE
Upon becoming aware of a potential threat, the peripheral nervous system sends a signal towards the Brainstem, RAS, Thalamus, Amygdala, Hippocampus, sensory and prefrontal cortex for processing to determine the incoming data's level of danger and risk.
If either the Highjacked amygdala, or through deeper analysis the prefrontal cortex deems the situation to have even the slightest potential risk to the homeostasis or core needs of the individual organism, the ANS activates the Sympathetic Stress Response.
A series of chemical and hormonal signals are sent through what is referred to as the HPA AXIS (hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal glands axis/complex), a sequenced chain of hormone secreting glands that instantaneously trigger a release of Stress hormones (Initially Catecholomines - Adreneline and Nor Adreneline for short term activation), and later if the threat persists (steroid hormones called glucocorticoids, mainly cortisol for sustained, and long term activation). These hormones act on almost all major bodily organ systems to regulate vital functions into ENERGY PRODUCTION and ACTION MODE.
PHASE X | Amygdala on Anxiety/Emotional High Jacked (Impulsive)/ Hyper Vigilant/Sensitive Trip wire, Overdrive
AMYGDALA
Memory center/ Storehouse of Emotional Importance
an area of the brain that contributes to emotional processing.
Our brain has two memory centres one for ordinary facts and one for emotional imprints.
While the hippocampus remembers the dry facts, the amygdala is what remembers the flavour/energy of the event.
Amygdala tags/encodes memories with Emotional Salience/Significance, Somatic markers, or Emotional imprints, the feelings that help us remember important events.
Intensity & Valence: It helps determine the intensity and positive/negative "valence" (good or bad) of emotional experiences.
It’s method of memory is associative.
If one key element is similar to that of a thread of the past it will trip the alarm wire; that is why the circuit is sloppy.
A match in one instance from past memories triggers modern-day mind to threats that were imprinted long ago.
Reminding us why it’s important to practice SELF REGULATION, to update, these young memories and bring them into present moment CHOICE/CAPACITY.
Emotion is reliant on the amygdala.
The amygdala is the storehouse of emotional feelings when it is severed from the brain a person is left with a little personal meaning, all passion depends on it.
Not all emotions rely solely on the amygdala; it's a crucial hub, a central player, particularly for processing high-arousal emotions and survival responses like fear, anger, anxiety, and pleasure, linking them to memories and arousal, but emotions are complex, emerging from interconnected networks across the entire brain, other brain areas (like the insula, prefrontal cortex, and cingulate cortex) are also vital, working in networks to create the full spectrum of feelings, from subtle to extreme. National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Interplay between the amygdala and the neo cortex is the foundation for emotional intelligence.
Location of Amygdala
We have two amygdala from the Greek word “almond”.
One on the left and right side of the brainstem.
Discoveries in the last decade about the emotional brain show how the architecture of the wiring of the amygdala give it a prominent powerhouse position to scan all sensory impulses questioning every scenario with one question that of the most primitive, “is this a threat.”
It’s primitive location allows the amygdala to capture and drive much of the other areas of the brain in times of fear heightening the awareness of other brain areas making them more alert.
Development of Amygdala
The amygdala is much closer to being fully formed at birth over the hippocampus prioritizing the emotional valence more than the context that is why there is so much controversy around infant and caretakers as they hold access to the emotional blueprint that will be carried through the rest of one’s life.
It is set before before the cognitive mind and rational thinking has a chance to influence them.
The amygdala primes an anxious and impulsive reactive behaviour, over a thoughtful, intentional response.
AMYGDALA FUNCTION in the body
WHEN TRAUMA/PAST PAINFUL EXPERIENCE TRIGGERS/ HITS THE STORED EMOTIONAL MEMORY IN THE AMYGDALA
The Lizard Brain in Highjacked Fear/Stress Response
In most cases the trip wire is very low, and most low lying concerns, people, experiences or events can just walk right over it.
In the Hyper sensitive/ maladaptive, uncalibrated, traumatized state;
The trip wire is at waste height.
In highly traumatized individuals every outside experience, stimuli, sensory imput walks directly into an alarm signal, and the stress response has to analyze it prior to letting it through.
Don’t trust that guy, have your guard up, don’t turn your back. Any situations that deem a severe threat, risk or danger to ones survival.
The past impose on the present. When the thalamus/amygdala suspect:
the features of a current experience include any
triggers, memories, rememberings, recollections, a similar sign/signal
of an emotional salient/charged/relevant experience of the past (relative to a potential threat/risk/danger) it highjacks goes straight to the amygdala.
BREATHE. PRESENCE. ACCEPTANCE
The Amygdala (with it’s own store of emotional memories, imprints / schemas / instructions. Doesn’t reference our rational mind / prefrontal cortex.) can at any time, recieve sensori input from the Thalamus & highjack data and sound the alarm.
Ledu discovered a smaller bundle of neurons that leads directly from the thalamus to the amygdala something like a neural back alley that bypasses the neocortex allows the amygdala to receive some direct responses from the senses that is before they are fully registered by the Neocortex (without any conscious cognition/awareness at all.)
That is the reason why before we even meet someone we can emotionally determine if we like them or not the emotional brain (unconscious opinions) has its own opinion separate that of the rational neo cortex.
The Thalamus & amygdala simultaneously interpret external/outside images and sounds. Looking and listening for familiarity, consistency, regularity, and in doing so quickly picks up if it is a sound you’ve heard before. When it perceives the stimuli is potential life threatening, threat, risk, danger, crisis, painful, unsafe situation, or concern for the loss of one of our core needs the Amygdala Hijacks the System and immediately sends a distress signal to the hypothalamus.
The hypothalamus registers the distress signal from the amygdala, and leaps into action activating the sympathetic nervous system (Fear, Fight, Flight), with evolutionary primal, and instinctive protective measures to safeguard you against any potential harm.
It does this through sending out a near-instantaneous, automatic and often unconscious sequence and cascade of hormonal changes through the HPA Axis, influencing and contributing to a large array of physiological changes that prompt and prepare our bodies for action.
The hypothalamus sends CRH (Corticotropin Releasing Hormone) to the Pituitary that releases ACTH (Adrenal CorticoTropic Hormonone), at which point the autonomic signal to the adrenel glands to flush the body with a series of Catecolomines (3 Main Stress chemicals/Hormones).
Further detail analysis of stimuli
Large bundle goes to the auditory cortex and the temporal lobe where it starts sorting this auditory stimulus to try to understand its source.
The auditory cortex comes up with its hypothesis.
Amygdala and hippocampus and your pre-frontal cortex circuitry loop kicks in if you were still unsure in bringing logic into that analysis further heightening/or relaxing your concern.
AMYGDALA FUNCTION in the Emotional Behaviour/Feelings/Reactivity
Our most intense emotions/ feelings are involuntary, out of our control, we cannot decide when they will erupt.
Love, and anger seem to happen to us rather than being a choice.
I.e. I was in the grip of emotion, explaining away your actions.
Love, passion, lust, sex in the path of Reproduction override rational reason.
Fear, danger in the path of Survival override rational reason.
This theory does much to explain the reason why emotion can often overwhelm rationality.
The emotions that take the direct route and bypass the neo cortex are most primitive and potent.
This shortcut branching allows the amygdala to operate before the neocortex giving it up the more response time compared to the neocortex (which usually processes and analyzes a more strategic response finally tailored.)
POTENTIAL FLAW/FAULT IN OUR PRIMITIVE WIRING (In a modern relatively safe world)
As an evolutionary evolved animals, We (our lymbic brain) sacrifice/tradeoff/prioritize SPEED for ACCURACY.
The problem is the amygdala STRONG EMOTION memory system can be out of date, causing false or faulty emotional alarms
especially in a fluid social world us humans inhabit.
The problem with this response is it can trigger equally outdated reactions. Many potent emotional memories date back to the first few years of life.
The amygdala (fear center) signals danger, even if it’s not life-threatening (work deadlines, arguments, bills).
1. MAKE MORE ENERGY (Respiratory/Digestive systems)
Energy Production Summary;
To make energy in cells, our bodies require two ingredients; glucose (sugar), and oxygen. Through a process called cellular respiration, individual cells combine these two ingredients in the mitochondria to produce a molecule adenosine triphosphate (ATP), the bodies primary useable source of Energy.
The sympathetic stress response influences our respiratory system to speed up the rate of breathing to provide more oxygen.
Simultaneously the sympathetic Stress response is initiating a chain reaction of chemical/hormonal releases that signal for the liver, muscles, and fat to release stored glycogen stores into readily available glucose/blood sugar. Creating a spike in blood sugar in our bloodstream.
This is done through a process called glycogenolysis.
Common Experience:
Shallow or rapid Breathing. Adrenaline's affect on our respiratory system causes accelerated breathing and expanded lung capacity with a widening of bronchial passages, and small airways in the lungs called bronchioles.
2. DELIVER MORE ENERGY (Cardiovascular system)
Energy Distribution Summary;
To deliver this readily available energy to our vital cells, organs, muscles, our bodies relies on our Cardiovascular system (Heart and blood vessel network).
The sympathetic stress response influences our cardiovascular system to speed up heart beat, to pump more of these nutrient molecules to cells to generate ATP and use as energy.
The chain reaction of stress chemical/hormones signal to vasoconstric (Shrink), or vasodilate (Open), specific blood vessel networks depending on how critical they are to serving the main and vital organ functions involved with the immediate priority of FIGHT/FLIGHT.
The net effect of this means shunting of blood away from the organs not necessary to the immediate survival of the organism and an increase in blood flow to those organs involved in intense physical activity. Includes shutting down the operation of less important recovery systems (digestion, immune, sexual reproduction)
Common Experience:
Increased Heart Beat / Blood Pressure. Increased heart rate/pulse and blood pressure enhance cardiac output in order to supply the body with more energy, provide critical nutrients to muscles, and other vital organ, and cells.
Cold hands and feet. Prioritizing blood flow to major muscles, brain can cause a side effect of limiting blood flow to outter extremities, which can cause hands and feet to feel cold.
3. USE MORE ENERGY (Nuerological, Nerve & Musculatory/ Skeletal)
Heightened Attention & Increased Energy Summary;
Our bodies utilize this increased supply of oxygen and energy rich nutrients through increased alertness/awakeness and increased muscle activation and output.
The pupils dilate to let in more light, opening up awareness and allowing for better vision of the body's surroundings, and any potential threats.
Extra oxygen is sent to the brain, increasing alertness. Sight, hearing, and other senses become sharper.
The body uses newly generated ATP/Energy, to contract muscle fibers, allowing for greater muscle engagement. Increased strength, and output to resist, fight or flight, propel and move the body away from a perceived threat, risk or danger.
Perspiration/sweating - Controls Body Temperature
Goosebumps are an evolved survival preservation method relied on by our primal ancestors in extreme cold climates. Activation of hair follicles stood body hair upright creating extra insulation, while also promoting more body hair growth, and regeneration.
Common Experience:
Intense Focus, Attentive mind. Difficulty Sleeping.
Unusual Strength. Increased Stamina
Increased Pain Tolerance.
4. CONSERVE MORE ENERGY (Ramping down digestive, immune, sexual reproduction systems)
Energy Preservation Summary
Through our bodies evolved and innate intelligence, the sympathetic nervous system shuts down, and suppresses non mandatory organ functions to focus available energy on vital tasks.
Through restricting blood flow, or through the release of inhibiting hormones/chemicals, under the sympathetic stress response we down regulate operations that are not essential to immediate survival.
Digestion is slowed. This results from a generally inhibitory effect of norepinephrine on the enteric nervous system, causing decreased secretion of digestive substances, and decreases in blood flow to the gastrointestinal tract, that supports and gut mobility (Peristalsis: The main movement, involving coordinated waves of muscle contractions and relaxations that push contents forward).
The sympathetic response has proinflammatory effects on our Immune system during short term acute Stress. Prolonged or chronic stress has inhibiting influence and effects on long term recovery and Immune systems operation. Reproductive systems down regulate. Anabolic processes of muscle atrophy (recovery/building) gets de prioritized.
Common Experience:
Digestive Issues. Trouble with constipation, bloating, gut mobility.
Lack of Sex Drive. Low Libido, testosterone with reproductive systems shut down.
Frequent Colds. Suppressed immune system causing susceptibility to viruses.
OVERALL ENERGY MAGICIAN
What an amazing ORGANISM, the human body is. We are Energy Optimizing Machines.
All of this operating through our Autonomic Nervous System and often below our level of conscious awareness.
In a balanced, healthy individual we can trust our biology to operate our ANS system on it’s own, while we use our conscious attention to engage with every day life, and new goals/challenges.
