How do You Respond to Stress?

By Payton Bayes

Your life isn’t ruined or over, it’s just stress. As of 2026, over 1 billion globally suffer from stress that has effects on their physical life making you feel weak or hopeless. This 77% suffer from major stress that symbolizes you are not alone!

Your brain is the most powerful thing in your body that determines what you think. If thoughts become extreme enough, you may even feel the reality of it. Chronic stress can actually shrink areas that alter in the brain like memory, emotional regulation, and expands the fear center of your brain which can have so many negative thoughts roll in once started.

This leads to triggered cortisol, a hormone managing stress, metabolism, blood pressure, and immune function. Triggered cortisol and shows up as high and low that comes along with symptoms changing your physical life.

But don’t be frightened because there are so many ways of coping with stress and it’s highly suggested that you keep these techniques by your side!

Exercise: Physical exercise is great for reducing stress. It’s great to distract all your thoughts and focus on your breathing. Exercise also reduces cortisol as I mentioned earlier.

Mindfulness/breathing: Things such as yoga, meditation, and breathing techniques can ease your mind. Staying grounded and controlling your feelings is so important when it comes to stress.

Laughing: Being around people you love and can make you laugh is one of the best medicines! Mayo Clinic shares with us,“By contrast, positive thoughts can actually release neuropeptides that help fight stress and potentially more-serious illnesses.” They conclude that laughter brings these positive feelings and thoughts that are so important!

Of course there are many other ways people love to reduce stress. A few students from Benicia High School, Aisslynn Freels and Malani Manto, manage their stress by napping and cleaning saying, “Cleaning makes me feel relaxed by decluttering when I clean and napping also makes me feel relaxed so I wake up refreshed.”

At the end of the day, always remember that so many other people go through this as well! Even though it may bring negative times into your life, there’s always a brighter side! Watching videos, listening to podcasts, or even talking to someone you trust can make you feel ten times better. Stress is just the fear in your brain that’s trying to take over until you learn to take control.