Stress is Normal - But What It’s Doing to Your Body Isn’t

We all experience stress. In fact, stress is a normal part of life. But when stress becomes chronic, that's where the problem begins.In this episode, we explore the science behind stress, what happens inside the body during prolonged periods of stress, and practical, evidence-based strategies to help build resilience and support overall wellbeing.Whether you're juggling work, family, caregiving, business, or simply the demands of everyday life, this episode will help you understand why managing stress isn't about eliminating life's challenges, it's about helping your body recover.  ***You can find the full list of researched references and further readings below. Main Discussion PointsWhat stress really is - Is it a bad thing?Acute stress vs chronic stressWhat chronic stress does to the body, including brain, immune system and skinThe gut-brain connectionPractical ways to reduce stress and build resistanceHealth Myth Debunked Stay in the Know: *** Subscribe to the blog's newsletter to stay informed and enjoy additional health and wellness topics.Things you can do right now to improve your health Related/Helpful Episodes:You’re Sleeping...But Are You Resting?Can You Really Catch Up on Sleep Over the Weekend?Is Your Lifestyle Quietly Damaging Your Brain?Sleepmaxxing – Optimizing Sleep Like a HackerGut Health: Why It Matters! Resources/Freebies:1.     Helpful Blog Posts/Videos: Top 5 Foods for Memory and Brain HealthLongevity Habits from the World’s Blue ZonesVideo: Let's Talk Brain Health   2.   Almonds and Olivez Wellness BlogReferences and Further ReadingAdam TC, Epel ES. Stress, eating and the reward system. Physiol Behav. 2007 Jul 24;91(4):449-58. Alotiby A. Immunology of Stress: A Review Article. J Clin Med. 2024 Oct 25;13(21):6394. American Psychological Association (https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/body)Arck PC, Slominski A, Theoharides TC, Peters EM, Paus R. Neuroimmunology of stress: skin takes center stage. J Invest Dermatol. 2006 Aug;126(8):1697-704. Bobok N, Taskesen T. Stress-Induced Changes of the Skin: A Narrative Review. Cureus. 2025 Nov 7;17(11): e96285.  Carabotti M et al. Ann Gastroenterol. 2015;28(2):203-209.  Chu B, Marwaha K, Sanvictores T, et al. Physiology, Stress Reaction. [Updated 2024 May 7]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2026 Jan.Cohen S, Janicki-Deverts D, Miller GE. Psychological stress and disease. JAMA. 2007 Oct 10;298(14):1685-7. Harvard Health (https://www.health.harvard.edu/)Henein MY, Vancheri S, Longo G, Vancheri F. The Impact of Mental Stress on Cardiovascular Health-Part II. J Clin Med. 2022 Jul 28;11(15):4405. Lupien SJ, McEwen BS, Gunnar MR, Heim C. Effects of stress throughout the lifespan on the brain, behaviour and cognition. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2009 Jun;10(6):434-45. Mariotti A. The effects of chronic stress on health: new insights into the molecular mechanisms of brain-body communication. Future Sci OA. 2015 Nov 1;1(3): FSO23. Mayer EA. Gut feelings: the emerging biology of gut-brain communication. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2011 Jul 13;12(8):453-66. McEwen BS. Protective and damaging effects of stress mediators. N Engl J Med. 1998 Jan 15;338(3):171-9. McEwen BS. Brain on stress: how the social environment gets under the skin. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2012 Oct 16;109 Suppl 2(Suppl 2):17180-5. Meerlo P, Sgoifo A, Suchecki D. Restricted and disrupted sleep: effects on autonomic function, neuroendocrine stress systems and stress responsivity. Sleep Med Rev. 2008 Jun;12(3):197-210.  Rahelić V, Perković T, Romić L, et al. The role of behavioral factors on chronic diseases-practice and knowledge gaps. Healthcare (Basel). 2024; 12(24):2520. Segerstrom SC, Miller GE. Psychological stress and the human immune system: a meta-analytic study of 30 years of inquiry. Psychol Bull. 2004 Jul;130(4):601-30. Steptoe A, Kivimäki M. Stress and cardiovascular disease. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2012 Apr 3;9(6):360-70.  Sun Y et al. J Alzheimers Dis Rep. 2025; 9:25424823251338161.  Torres SJ, Nowson CA. Relationship between stress, eating behavior, and obesity. Nutrition. 2007 Nov-Dec;23(11-12):887-94. Vaccarino V, Bremner JD. Stress and cardiovascular disease: an update. Nat Rev Cardiol. 2024 Sep;21(9):603-616.For more Health and Wellness tips, subscribe to the Social-Ize Your Health ™   Podcast on Spotify and Apple or wherever you listen to podcasts. Leave a review and share it with someone who enjoys real conversations about health. Send us Fan MailThanks for listening! Have a great day!