Stress doesn’t whisper. It sends memos to every part of your body—especially the ones you ignore.
When stress becomes chronic, your body’s systems begin to misfire. Cortisol floods your bloodstream, immune responses weaken, and digestion slows to a crawl. This domino effect can trigger migraines, IBS, weight gain, and cardiovascular strain. One meta-analysis found that people under high stress had a 43% higher risk of dying from heart disease (Steptoe & Kivimäki, 2013). Your body is wise—it rings the alarm. But if you’re not listening, the warning bells may eventually become symptoms. Today is about understanding the biology behind your body’s “stress mess.”
Action Step:
Look at your stress audit and write a brief paragraph on how your body responds to stressors—notice patterns.