Stress is a part of life, and how we experience stress can determine how much of it impacts our health and well-being. Experiences that feel exciting, push us to improve, and positively affect our lives can make us feel good. But when situations lead to unwanted results, they can cause stress and harm our well-being.

Chronic stress impacts our health by having a wear-and-tear effect on the body’s systems caused by repeated or prolonged exposure to stress. When we face stress, our body activates adaptive response mechanisms known as Corticotropin-releasing hormones to maintain balance (allostasis). However, if stress is constant or overwhelming, these biological responses can become overused or dysregulated, leading to allostatic load. This accumulated strain damages organs and disrupts immune, cardiovascular, and metabolic functions, increasing the risk of chronic illnesses.

A recent review I conducted revealed a strong link between psychological stress and flare-ups in Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), showing that stress acts as a significant risk factor for worsening symptoms in adults with gastrointestinal autoimmune conditions. It highlights that various types of stress—stressful life events, daily hassles, and perceived stress—can influence disease activity. However, the research also points out key gaps, such as inconsistent ways to measure stress and disease activity, unclear cause-and-effect relationships, and the need to consider individual differences like resilience.

Unresolved Question: How does stress affect the capacity for resilience overtime? Can resilience be learned?