Understanding Stress
Reviewed By
Donna Bottomley - Psychotherapist, MBABCP accredited, 10+ years in CBT and EMDR
Stress is your body’s natural mobilisation system, it evolved to help us handle life's demands and challenges. While often viewed negatively, stress also serves an important purpose in keeping us alert and ready for action.
References
McEwen, B. S., & Akil, H. (2020). "Revisiting the Stress Concept: Implications for Affective Disorders." Journal of Neuroscience, 40(1), 12-21. A foundational paper that reviews how chronic stress affects brain structure and function, particularly in relation to mood disorders. Cohen, S., Murphy, M. L. M., & Prather, A. A. (2019). "Ten Surprising Facts About Stressful Life Events and Disease Risk." Annual Review of Psychology, 70, 577-597. Explores the relationship between stressful life events and various health outcomes, including immune function and disease susceptibility. Yaribeygi, H., Panahi, Y., Sahraei, H., & Johnston, T. P. (2017). "The Impact of Stress on Body Function: A Review." EXCLI Journal, 16, 1057-1072. Comprehensive review of how stress affects various body systems, from cardiovascular to immune function. Epel, E. S., Crosswell, A. D., & Mayer, S. E. (2018). "More than a Feeling: A Unified View of Stress Measurement for Population Science." Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 49, 146-169. Discusses modern approaches to measuring stress and its biological impacts, including both acute and chronic stress markers. Mariotti, A. (2015). "The Effects of Chronic Stress on Health: New Insights into the Molecular Mechanisms of Brain-Body Communication." Future Science OA, 1(3), FSO23. Though slightly older, this remains a key paper explaining the molecular mechanisms linking chronic stress to various health conditions. Shields, G. S., Sazma, M. A., & Yonelinas, A. P. (2016). "The Effects of Acute Stress on Core Executive Functions: A Meta-Analysis and Comparison with Cortisol." Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 68, 651-668. A meta-analysis examining how acute stress affects cognitive function and decision-making abilities. Juster, R. P., McEwen, B. S., & Lupien, S. J. (2010). "Allostatic Load Biomarkers of Chronic Stress and Impact on Health and Cognition." Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 35(1), 2-16. Though older, this remains a fundamental paper explaining the concept of allostatic load and how chronic stress accumulates to affect health.