13/04/2026
Stress is an inevitable facet of life, impacting individuals from all walks of life, irrespective of age, gender, or socioeconomic status. At its core, stress is a fundamental adaptive response designed to mobilise resources and prepare the body to confront or flee from perceived threats, a mechanism often referred to as the "fight-or-flight" response. When faced with a stressor, the hypothalamus, a region of the brain, initiates a cascade of hormonal signals, leading to the release of stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline from the adrenal glands. These hormones trigger a series of physiological changes, including increased heart rate, heightened alertness, and redirection of energy resources to vital organs, enabling the individual to respond to the perceived threat effectively.