STRESS: GETTY IMAGES; KERA AND TOSSOUNIAN: PROVIDED BY HACKENSACK UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER;

Suddenly, you’ re feeling jangly from the adrenaline and cortisol rush that comes from the fight-or-flight response, the body’ sinstinctive reaction to perceived threats. While this energy boost helps during times of physical danger— slamming the brakes to avoid acar crash, running from a fire— inour relatively sedentary daily routines, it just makes us feel shaky. And the feeling can linger.

“ We think the fight-or-flight response comes as areaction to asingle event, but once we’ re hit with chronic stressors over time, wereach ahigher level of arousal,” says Dr. Elizabeth Kera, director of the Division of Psychology and Neuropsychology at the

Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at Hackensack University Medical Center.“ The limbic system in the brain that regulates emotions becomes overactive and triggers acas-

KERA

cade of events that lead to the release of stress hormones.”

Every day brings frustrations like getting criticized by the boss or discovering adent in your new car. But if you can’ t shake the sense that the world has gotten less predictable and more problematic, you’ re far from alone. With the 24 / 7 news cycle and social media, each day can feel like aminefield of anxiety-inducing developments.

Studies reflect this. A 2022 Pew Research Center report found that roughly 41 percent of U. S. adults said

their mental health declined during the pandemic; women and young adults ages 18-29 experienced the steepest drop. And in aNational Health Interview Survey taken by the Center

TOSSOUNIAN for Disease Control between 2020-2023, participants noted sharply rising levels of anxiety, depression, and psychological distress since 2019.

Stress’ toll on the body can extend far beyond feeling out-of-sorts.“ Stressed-out people with elevated cortisol levels have lower immunity levels,” says Dr. NoraTossounian, an internal medicine specialist with Hackensack Meridian Health.“ They come in more frequently in fall and winter with infections, and may have atougher time getting rid of visceral body fat in middle