Part 2/8:

Most of us have encountered moments of acute stress—like being startled by a barking dog or narrowly avoiding an accident. These fleeting episodes trigger immediate physical reactions involving the brain's hypothalamus, which signals the release of stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones prepare us for a fight-or-flight response, increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and energy levels temporarily.

However, the kind of stress we often experience at work isn't like that sudden scare; it's chronic. When stressors persist—be it unfair treatment, unreasonable demands, or the pressure of unpaid overtime—they do not simply dissipate. Instead, they linger, often bleeding into personal time, leading to prolonged activation of our stress response systems.