Understanding the Connection Between Stress and Mental Health

Stress has become an unavoidable aspect of modern life, affecting millions of people worldwide. While experiencing occasional stress is a normal part of the human experience, the relationship between chronic stress and mental health is far more complex and consequential than many realize. Understanding this intricate connection is essential for protecting our psychological well-being and developing effective strategies to manage life’s challenges.

What is Stress and How Does It Work?

Stress is fundamentally a protective biological mechanism that alerts us when we may be in an uncomfortable or potentially dangerous situation. At its core, stress is the body’s natural response to perceived threats or challenges, triggering a series of physiological and psychological reactions aimed at mobilizing resources for survival.

When you encounter a stressful situation, your body initiates a sophisticated cascade of responses. A tiny region at the brain’s base, called the hypothalamus, sets off an alarm system in the body through nerve and hormonal signals, prompting the adrenal glands to release a surge of hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. This complex system has evolved over millennia to help humans respond quickly to immediate dangers.

Common triggers of stress include:

Work-related pressures and deadlines
Relationship conflicts and interpersonal challenges
Financial difficulties and economic uncertainty
Health concerns and medical conditions
Major life transitions and changes
Academic demands and performance expectations
Social pressures and obligations
Environmental factors and daily hassles

While we all need some stress to signal uncomfortable situations and motivate us to take action, when we experience stress long-term, some of the mechanisms of stress that are supposed to be protective become harmful.

Understanding Acute Stress vs. Chronic Stress

Acute Stress: The Body’s Immediate Response

Acute stress can be defined as a real or perceived temporary challenge to the organism’s ability to maintain homeostasis and can be either physiological or psychological in nature, with the organism responding by rapidly mobilizing the autonomic and neuroendocrine systems, producing physiological changes that facilitate the response to the threat and the return to homeostasis.

The body’s stress response system is usually self-limiting—once a perceived threat has passed, hormones return to typical levels, and as adrenaline and cortisol levels drop, your heart rate and blood pressure return to typical levels and other systems go back to their regular activities. This type of stress can actually be beneficial, helping us perform better under pressure, meet deadlines, and respond effectively to challenges.

Chronic Stress: When the Alarm Never Stops

Chronic stress occurs when an individual experiences persistent or recurring stressors over an extended period, typically weeks, months, or even years. Unlike acute stress, which resolves once the threat passes, chronic stress keeps the body’s alarm system activated continuously.

When stressors are always present and you always feel under attack, that fight-or-flight reaction stays turned on, and the long-term activation of the stress response system and too much exposure to cortisol and other stress hormones can disrupt almost all the body’s processes. This persistent state of heightened alert can have devastating consequences for both physical and mental health.

The Role of Cortisol: Understanding the Stress Hormone

Cortisol, a critical glucocorticoid hormone produced by the adrenal glands, plays a pivotal role in various physiological processes, with its release finely orchestrated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus, governing the circadian rhythm and activating the intricate hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, a vital neuroendocrine system responsible for stress response and maintaining homeostasis.

How Cortisol Functions in the Body

Adrenaline makes the heart beat faster, causes blood pressure to go up and gives you more energy, while cortisol, the primary stress hormone, increases sugar in the bloodstream, enhances the brain’s use of glucose and increases the availability of substances in the body that repair tissues.

Cortisol also slows functions that would be nonessential or harmful in a fight-or-flight situation, changes immune system responses and suppresses the digestive system, the reproductive system and growth processes, while also communicating with the brain regions that control mood, motivation and fear.

When Cortisol Becomes Problematic

Disruptions in cortisol regulation due to chronic stress, disease, and aging have profound implications for multiple bodily systems. Fluctuations in cortisol secretion often accompany psychiatric disorders, and normalization of its levels correlates with improvement in the patient’s health.

If you are in a state of constant stress, then your cortisol levels will remain elevated, which can put you at risk for certain physical and mental health conditions. The consequences of chronically elevated cortisol extend far beyond temporary discomfort, potentially altering brain structure and function in lasting ways.

How Chronic Stress Affects the Brain

Prolonged exposure to stress can have detrimental effects on both physical and mental health, and its impact on the brain is particularly profound, as chronic stress can lead to structural and functional changes in the brain, influencing cognitive processes, emotional regulation, and overall mental well-being.

The Hippocampus: Memory and Learning Under Siege

The hippocampus is essential for learning and memory, and chronic stress has a particularly damaging effect on the hippocampus, leading to reduced neurogenesis (the formation of new neurons), dendritic atrophy, and decreased hippocampal volume, with these changes impairing memory formation and retrieval and contributing to mood disorders such as depression.

Receptors for glucocorticoids are found in the hippocampus, amygdala and frontal cortex, three brain regions involved in memory processing and emotional regulation, and studies have shown that chronic exposure to stress is associated with reduced volume of the hippocampus and that chronic stress can modulate volumes of both the amygdala and frontal cortex, suggesting neurotoxic effects of stress hormones on the brain.

The Prefrontal Cortex: Decision-Making and Executive Function

The prefrontal cortex is characterized by its intricate cytoarchitecture, extensive connections with other brain regions, and role in higher-order cognitive functions. Because of lowered glucocorticoid receptor levels, stress hormone levels increase and the balance between receptor expression is changed; these alterations affect the function of other brain areas, notably the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus, and may underlie the emotional and cognitive impairments produced by chronic stress.

Chronic stress in childhood can lead to structural changes in the brain, particularly in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex, affecting memory and decision-making abilities, with these changes having lasting effects on mental health into adulthood.

The Amygdala: Emotional Processing and Fear Response

The amygdala, which processes emotions and fear responses, is significantly impacted by chronic stress. Stress can cause an imbalance of neural circuitry subserving cognition, decision making, anxiety and mood that can increase or decrease expression of those behaviors and behavioral states.

The insula integrates emotional and bodily states, contributing to the subjective experience of stress, and chronic stress can alter insular function, leading to increased interoceptive sensitivity (heightened awareness of internal bodily states) and contributing to anxiety and stress-related disorders.

Neurotransmitter Systems and Brain Chemistry

Chronic stress can also disrupt various neurotransmitter systems, further affecting brain function and structure, as serotonin is involved in mood regulation, anxiety, and stress responses, and chronic stress can lead to dysregulation of the serotonergic system, reducing serotonin levels and receptor sensitivity.

Chronic stress can induce epigenetic changes, which alter gene expression without changing the underlying DNA sequence, and these changes can have long-lasting effects on brain function and behavior. This means that the effects of chronic stress can potentially be passed down through generations, affecting not just the individual experiencing stress but potentially their descendants as well.

The Impact of Stress on Mental Health Disorders

The relationship between chronic stress and mental health disorders is well-established in scientific literature. Prolonged stress and high cortisol levels in the body make us more vulnerable to mental health disorders, an abundance of research has found.

Depression and Anxiety Disorders

In adults, particularly those with conditions like Cushing’s syndrome, elevated cortisol is strongly associated with mood disorders such as depression and anxiety, and even slightly elevated cortisol levels can lead to significant mental health issues, including cognitive impairments and increased disability related to mental illness.

High levels of cortisol can increase your risk of physical and mental health conditions like cardiovascular disease, depression, and anxiety. The bidirectional relationship between stress and depression creates a vicious cycle where stress contributes to depression, and depression makes it harder to cope with stress effectively.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)

PTSD is a condition that develops after experiencing a severe and traumatic event, such as military combat, car accidents, or assault, and one key factor that increases the risk of developing PTSD is having faced significant stressors earlier in life, including childhood trauma.

PTSD is linked to changes in the brain’s stress-response systems, which usually regulate the body’s stress response, and interestingly, research has shown that cortisol levels in people with PTSD can appear normal in everyday settings but become low during stressful situations, with this abnormal response contributing to the symptoms of PTSD.

Bipolar Disorder and Psychotic Disorders

Stress and increased cortisol levels may contribute to the relapse of depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. The HPA axis dysregulation associated with chronic stress plays a significant role in the manifestation and exacerbation of these serious mental health conditions.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)

While OCD has complex neurobiological underpinnings, stress can trigger symptom onset and exacerbate existing symptoms. The anxiety associated with chronic stress can intensify obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviors, making it more difficult for individuals to manage their condition effectively.

Cognitive Impairments Associated with Chronic Stress

Persistent elevation of stress hormones has been associated with cognitive impairment especially in hippocampal dependent memory tasks. The effects of chronic stress on cognitive function are wide-ranging and can significantly impact daily life.

Memory and Learning Deficits

Stressful experiences, both physical and psychological, that are overwhelming can measurably affect subsequent neuronal properties and cognitive functioning of the hippocampus, as at the cellular level, stress has been shown to alter hippocampal synaptic plasticity, spike and local field potential activity, dendritic morphology, neurogenesis, and neurodegeneration, and at the behavioral level, stress has been found to impair learning and memory for declarative tasks that are based on cognition, such as verbal recall memory in humans and spatial memory in rodents.

Executive Function and Decision-Making

Chronic high cortisol in adults can lead to cognitive decline, particularly affecting memory and executive function, and the relationship between cortisol levels and cognition often follows an “inverted U” pattern, where both low and high cortisol levels can impair cognitive performance, but moderate levels may enhance certain cognitive functions.

You may notice changes in cognition, whether it is challenges with attention, slowed processing, poor memory or word recall, or simply muddled thinking, and these shifts may make tasks more difficult than they should be.

Early recognition of stress-related mental health problems is crucial for timely intervention and treatment. Being aware of warning signs can help you or someone you care about seek help before symptoms become severe.

Emotional and Behavioral Symptoms

Increased irritability, anger, or mood swings
Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or emptiness
Heightened anxiety or excessive worry
Difficulty experiencing pleasure in previously enjoyable activities
Withdrawal from social interactions and relationships
Increased use of alcohol, drugs, or other substances
Emotional numbness or feeling disconnected

Cognitive Symptoms

Difficulty concentrating or maintaining focus
Memory problems or forgetfulness
Racing thoughts or inability to quiet the mind
Indecisiveness or difficulty making decisions
Negative or catastrophic thinking patterns
Confusion or mental fog

Physical Symptoms

Changes in sleep patterns (insomnia or excessive sleeping)
Significant changes in appetite or weight
Chronic fatigue or low energy
Frequent headaches or migraines
Digestive problems or stomach issues
Muscle tension or pain
Weakened immune system and frequent illness

The importance of being aware of your stress levels cannot be overstated, as sometimes a state of chronic or long-term stress can start to feel like the norm, and we don’t even realize we are in a stressed state.

The Neuroplasticity Factor: Hope for Recovery

Despite the serious impacts of chronic stress on the brain, there is reason for optimism. The adult as well as developing brain possesses a remarkable ability to show structural and functional plasticity in response to stressful and other experiences, including neuronal replacement, dendritic remodeling and synapse turnover.

While prevention is key, the plasticity of the brain gives hope for therapies that utilize brain–body interactions. This neuroplasticity means that with appropriate interventions, many of the negative effects of chronic stress on the brain can potentially be reversed or mitigated.

Evidence-Based Strategies for Managing Stress and Protecting Mental Health

Managing stress effectively requires a multifaceted approach that addresses both the sources of stress and the body’s response to it. The following strategies are supported by scientific research and can help reduce the impact of stress on mental health.

Physical Activity and Exercise

Regular physical activity is one of the most powerful tools for managing stress and protecting mental health. People can use exercise to stifle the buildup of stress in several ways, as exercise, such as taking a brisk walk shortly after feeling stressed, not only deepens breathing but also helps relieve muscle tension, and movement therapies such as yoga, tai chi, and qi gong combine fluid movements with deep breathing and mental focus, all of which can induce calm.

One analysis of 42 studies found that practicing yoga may be linked to lower cortisol levels, blood pressure, and heart rate. The benefits of exercise extend beyond immediate stress relief to include improved mood, better sleep, enhanced cognitive function, and increased resilience to future stressors.

Effective forms of exercise for stress management include:

Aerobic activities like walking, jogging, swimming, or cycling
Yoga and mindful movement practices
Strength training and resistance exercises
Tai chi and qi gong
Dance and rhythmic movement
Team sports and recreational activities

Mindfulness and Meditation Practices

Stress management techniques, including relaxation exercises, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapy, have emerged as valuable interventions for individuals seeking to regain control over their stress response and alleviate pain, with several studies underscoring their efficacy in mitigating the physiological and psychological impact of stress.

At institutions focused on mind-body medicine, people learn how to counter the stress response by using a combination of approaches that elicit the relaxation response, including deep abdominal breathing, focus on a soothing word (such as peace or calm), visualization of tranquil scenes, repetitive prayer, yoga, and tai chi.

Mindfulness practices help individuals develop greater awareness of their thoughts, emotions, and bodily sensations without judgment. This increased awareness can help break the cycle of stress reactivity and create space for more adaptive responses to challenging situations.

Sleep Hygiene and Rest

Sleep deprivation is associated with an increase in cortisol levels, and if you get 7-9 hours of restful sleep a night, it should help to regulate your cortisol levels. Quality sleep is essential for mental health, as it allows the brain to process emotions, consolidate memories, and restore physiological balance.

Strategies for improving sleep quality include:

Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule
Creating a relaxing bedtime routine
Limiting screen time before bed
Keeping the bedroom cool, dark, and quiet
Avoiding caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime
Managing stress and anxiety through relaxation techniques
Limiting daytime napping

Nutrition and Dietary Considerations

Eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise, along with getting plenty of sleep, are fundamental to stress management. Proper nutrition provides the body with the resources it needs to manage stress effectively and maintain optimal brain function.

A balanced diet rich in whole foods, fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats can help stabilize blood sugar levels, reduce inflammation, and support neurotransmitter production. Limiting processed foods, excessive sugar, caffeine, and alcohol can also help regulate cortisol levels and improve overall mental health.

Confidants, friends, acquaintances, co-workers, relatives, spouses, and companions all provide a life-enhancing social net and may increase longevity, and while it’s not clear why, the buffering theory holds that people who enjoy close relationships with family and friends receive emotional support that indirectly helps to sustain them at times of chronic stress and crisis.

Strong social connections provide numerous benefits for mental health:

Emotional validation and understanding
Practical assistance during difficult times
Different perspectives on problems
Opportunities for positive experiences and joy
Sense of belonging and purpose
Accountability and motivation for healthy behaviors

Building and maintaining supportive relationships requires intentional effort, including regular communication, vulnerability, reciprocity, and investment of time and energy. Support can come from family, friends, colleagues, support groups, religious or spiritual communities, and mental health professionals.

Professional Mental Health Support

Professional counseling and therapy can be invaluable for managing stress and addressing mental health concerns. Various therapeutic approaches have proven effective for stress-related issues:

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors
Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR): Combines mindfulness meditation with body awareness
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Focuses on accepting difficult emotions while committing to values-based action
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR): Particularly effective for trauma-related stress
Psychodynamic therapy: Explores unconscious patterns and past experiences influencing current stress responses
Group therapy: Provides peer support and shared learning experiences

Don’t hesitate to seek professional help if stress is significantly impacting your quality of life, relationships, work performance, or overall functioning. Early intervention can prevent more serious mental health problems from developing.

Time Management and Boundary Setting

Effective time management and healthy boundaries are essential for preventing chronic stress. This includes:

Prioritizing tasks and responsibilities
Learning to say no to excessive commitments
Delegating when possible
Taking regular breaks throughout the day
Setting realistic expectations for yourself and others
Creating work-life balance
Scheduling time for rest and recreation

Relaxation Techniques and Stress-Reduction Practices

Relaxation exercises such as yoga, deep breathing, massage or meditation, keeping a journal and writing about your thoughts or what you’re grateful for in your life, and taking time for hobbies, such as reading or listening to music can all help reduce stress levels and promote mental well-being.

Additional relaxation techniques include:

Progressive muscle relaxation
Guided imagery and visualization
Aromatherapy
Spending time in nature
Creative expression through art, music, or writing
Laughter and humor
Pet therapy and animal interaction

Special Considerations: Stress Across the Lifespan

Childhood and Adolescent Stress

Behavioral problems such as aggression, anxiety, and depression may occur due to chronically elevated levels of cortisol in children, and initially, high cortisol levels may correspond with the onset of these problems, but over time, children with prolonged behavioral issues may exhibit lower cortisol levels due to a blunted stress response.

Childhood adversity and trauma are associated with changes in cortisol reactivity, which can negatively impact executive functions and cognitive performance, and children exposed to stress may show diminished cortisol responses to challenges, which is linked to long-term health issues, including obesity and addiction.

The prefrontal cortex undergoes protracted development, continuing to mature well into early adulthood, and understanding how stress affects PFC plasticity during different developmental stages can inform educational practices and interventions aimed at promoting optimal cognitive and emotional development in children and adolescents.

Adult Stress and Mental Health

Adults may experience a more pronounced impact of chronic stress on the HPA axis, leading to persistent dysregulation of cortisol levels, and this dysregulation can contribute to a range of psychiatric symptoms and disorders, including an increased risk for anxiety and depressive disorders.

Adults face unique stressors including career pressures, financial responsibilities, relationship challenges, parenting demands, and caregiving for aging parents. Balancing these multiple roles while maintaining mental health requires intentional self-care and stress management strategies.

Aging and Stress Vulnerability

As we age, the brain’s ability to regulate stress responses may change, potentially making older adults more vulnerable to the negative effects of chronic stress. Additionally, age-related changes in brain structure and function can interact with stress to accelerate cognitive decline and increase risk for neurodegenerative diseases.

However, older adults also often have greater emotional regulation skills and life experience that can serve as protective factors against stress. Maintaining social connections, staying physically and mentally active, and engaging in meaningful activities can help protect mental health in later life.

Sex and Gender Differences in Stress Response

There are important sex differences in how the brain responds to stressors. Research has shown that men and women may experience and respond to stress differently, with hormonal factors, socialization, and biological differences all playing a role.

The role of estrogens in conferring stress resilience in females and the unique vulnerabilities of the developing and aging PFC are discussed in current research, highlighting the importance of considering sex and gender in understanding stress and mental health.

Women are statistically more likely to be diagnosed with anxiety and depression, while men may be more likely to externalize stress through substance use or aggression. Understanding these differences can help tailor interventions to be more effective for different populations.

The Workplace and Stress Management

Work-related stress is one of the most common sources of chronic stress in modern society. Recent survey data shows that 33% of U.S. adults feel they are living with extreme stress, and 73% report that it’s impacting their mental health negatively.

Workplace stressors can include:

Heavy workloads and unrealistic deadlines
Lack of control or autonomy
Poor work-life balance
Interpersonal conflicts
Job insecurity
Lack of recognition or advancement opportunities
Toxic organizational culture
Role ambiguity or conflicting demands

Employers have a responsibility to create healthy work environments that minimize unnecessary stress and support employee mental health. This can include offering flexible work arrangements, providing mental health resources, promoting work-life balance, fostering positive workplace culture, and training managers to recognize and address stress-related issues.

Employees can also take steps to manage workplace stress, such as setting boundaries, communicating needs clearly, taking regular breaks, using available resources, and seeking support when needed.

When to Seek Professional Help

While self-care strategies are important, there are times when professional intervention is necessary. Seek help from a mental health professional if you experience:

Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or worthlessness
Thoughts of self-harm or suicide
Inability to perform daily activities or fulfill responsibilities
Severe anxiety or panic attacks
Significant changes in sleep, appetite, or energy levels
Substance abuse or dependence
Relationship problems or social isolation
Physical symptoms without clear medical cause
Difficulty coping with a traumatic event
Symptoms that persist despite self-help efforts

Remember that seeking help is a sign of strength, not weakness. Mental health professionals can provide evidence-based treatments, support, and guidance to help you manage stress and improve your mental health.

The Future of Stress and Mental Health Research

It is vital to understand the relationship between the effects of stress on the brain and how cognitive impairment occurs during exposure to chronic stress, and through better understanding of mechanisms underlying the relationship between stress and cognition, new avenues may appear towards the development of new therapeutic approaches.

Potential pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions may mitigate or reverse stress-induced changes in the prefrontal cortex, with key areas for future research including the need for more studies on the reversibility of stress effects and the potential of emerging technologies in unraveling the complexities of PFC plasticity, underscoring the critical importance of understanding stress-induced PFC plasticity for developing more effective strategies to prevent and treat stress-related mental health disorders.

Emerging areas of research include:

Personalized medicine approaches based on genetic and biological markers
Novel pharmacological interventions targeting specific stress pathways
Digital therapeutics and technology-based interventions
Preventive strategies for high-risk populations
Understanding resilience factors and protective mechanisms
Exploring the role of the gut-brain axis in stress and mental health
Investigating epigenetic modifications and their reversibility

Building Resilience: A Proactive Approach

While managing stress is important, building resilience—the ability to adapt and bounce back from adversity—is equally crucial for long-term mental health. Resilience is not a fixed trait but a set of skills and attitudes that can be developed over time.

Factors that contribute to resilience include:

Optimistic thinking: Maintaining hope and positive expectations for the future
Self-efficacy: Believing in your ability to handle challenges
Emotional regulation: Managing emotions effectively without being overwhelmed
Problem-solving skills: Approaching challenges systematically and creatively
Flexibility: Adapting to changing circumstances
Purpose and meaning: Having clear values and goals that guide behavior
Self-compassion: Treating yourself with kindness during difficult times
Growth mindset: Viewing challenges as opportunities for learning and development

Developing resilience is a lifelong process that involves intentional practice, self-reflection, and often support from others. By building resilience, you can not only better manage current stressors but also prepare yourself to handle future challenges more effectively.

Creating a Personalized Stress Management Plan

Effective stress management is not one-size-fits-all. What works for one person may not work for another, and what helps in one situation may not be appropriate for another. Creating a personalized stress management plan involves:

Identifying your stressors: Keep a stress journal to track what triggers stress for you
Recognizing your stress responses: Notice how stress manifests in your body, emotions, thoughts, and behaviors
Assessing your current coping strategies: Evaluate which strategies are helpful and which may be harmful
Exploring new techniques: Try different stress management approaches to find what works for you
Creating a toolkit: Develop a collection of strategies you can use in different situations
Building support: Identify people and resources you can turn to for help
Setting goals: Establish realistic, specific goals for managing stress
Monitoring progress: Regularly assess how well your strategies are working and adjust as needed
Practicing self-compassion: Be patient with yourself as you develop new skills
Seeking professional guidance: Work with a mental health professional to refine your plan

Remember that stress management is an ongoing process, not a destination. Your needs and circumstances will change over time, and your stress management plan should evolve accordingly.

The Role of Society and Policy in Addressing Stress

Policies of government and the private sector are important to promote health and increase “healthspan.” Addressing the stress epidemic requires not just individual action but also systemic changes at the societal level.

Policy interventions that can help reduce stress and promote mental health include:

Improving access to mental health services
Implementing workplace protections and standards
Providing paid family and medical leave
Ensuring economic security and reducing poverty
Investing in education and early childhood programs
Creating supportive community environments
Reducing stigma around mental health
Promoting work-life balance through policy

Individuals can advocate for these changes by supporting mental health initiatives, voting for policies that promote well-being, and speaking out about the importance of mental health in their communities.

Conclusion: Taking Control of Your Mental Health

The connection between stress and mental health is undeniable and profound. When stress becomes chronic or overwhelming, it exacts a toll on the brain, altering its structure, function, and connectivity in profound ways. However, understanding this connection empowers us to take proactive steps to protect our mental health.

Understanding the impact that stress has on our brains and overall brain health is necessary not only to live more stress-free lives, but to protect ourselves from the negative effects chronic stress can have on us, and by being aware and taking proactive steps to manage stress, we can protect our brains and improve our overall well-being.

While we cannot eliminate stress from our lives entirely, we can learn to manage it more effectively. By implementing evidence-based stress management strategies, building resilience, seeking support when needed, and advocating for systemic changes, we can reduce the impact of stress on our mental health and lead more fulfilling, balanced lives.

Remember that mental health is just as important as physical health, and taking care of your mental well-being is not selfish—it’s essential. Whether you’re currently struggling with stress-related mental health issues or simply want to build better habits for the future, the time to act is now. Your brain has remarkable capacity for healing and adaptation, and with the right support and strategies, you can overcome the challenges of chronic stress and thrive.

For more information on stress management and mental health, visit the National Institute of Mental Health, the American Psychological Association, or the Mental Health.gov website. If you’re experiencing a mental health crisis, contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by calling or texting 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org.

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