LAST week, we began a conversation about stress and challenged a belief that many of us have come to accept that living under constant pressure is simply part of life. We explored how stress is not a sign of weakness but a natural response that God built into our bodies to protect us. We also acknowledged an uncomfortable truth: while stress itself is normal, living in a permanent state of stress is not. Yet, for many Nigerians, that has quietly become the norm.
This week, let us take a journey inside the body to understand what actually happens the moment you become stressed. You may be surprised to learn that before your heart starts racing, before your palms become sweaty, before your stomach begins to churn or your mind goes blank, your brain has already sounded an alarm.
Imagine you are driving home when another vehicle suddenly swerves into your lane. Or perhaps your phone rings late at night with news that a loved one has been rushed to the hospital. Maybe your employer unexpectedly calls you into the office and says, “We need to talk.” In a split second, your body begins to react, even before you have fully processed what is happening.
This is because deep inside your brain is a small but powerful structure called the amygdala. You can think of it as the brain’s smoke detector. Just as a smoke detector senses danger and triggers an alarm, the amygdala constantly scans your environment for anything that might threaten your safety or well-being.
The moment it senses danger, whether the threat is physical, emotional, financial or even imagined, it immediately sends a distress signal to another part of the brain called the hypothalamus. Think of the hypothalamus as the body’s control centre. Once it receives the alarm, it quickly sends messages throughout the body to prepare for action.
Within seconds, your adrenal glands release hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol. Adrenaline is like an emergency power boost. It makes your heart beat faster so that more blood reaches your muscles. Your breathing becomes quicker to supply more oxygen. Your pupils widen to help you see more clearly. Your muscles tighten and become ready for action. At the same time, cortisol helps provide extra energy by increasing the amount of glucose available in your bloodstream. These changes are not random. They are the body’s way of helping you survive.
This reaction is often called the “fight, flight or freeze” response. Depending on the situation, your body prepares you to confront the danger, run away from it, or become still while your brain figures out the safest next step. Thousands of years ago, this response helped our ancestors escape wild animals and other life-threatening situations.
Today, however, the threats we face are often different. The body may react in exactly the same way whether you are escaping a dangerous animal or worrying about unpaid bills, struggling with unemployment, sitting through hours of traffic, dealing with workplace pressure, or anxiously waiting for medical test results. Although these challenges may not require physical action, your brain often interprets them as threats that demand an emergency response.
The problem is not that this alarm system exists. The problem is when it never switches off.
Imagine your house alarm ringing continuously every day. Eventually, the constant noise would become unbearable, and the system itself might begin to malfunction. In much the same way, when the brain repeatedly signals the body to remain on high alert, the continuous release of stress hormones begins to affect nearly every organ.
This is why chronic stress can contribute to headaches, poor sleep, persistent fatigue, high blood pressure, digestive problems, frequent infections, anxiety, depression and even difficulties with memory and concentration. Many people notice that during stressful periods they become forgetful, easily irritated or emotionally overwhelmed. This is not because they are incapable or “losing their minds.” It is often because the brain is directing most of its energy toward survival instead of learning, creativity or clear thinking.
Perhaps this explains why you have walked into a room and forgotten why you went there, struggled to focus while reading an important document, or reacted more sharply than you intended during a conversation. Your brain is not failing you; it is responding to what it believes is a threat.
The encouraging news is that our brains are remarkably adaptable. Just as repeated stress can strengthen the brain’s alarm system, healthy habits can help calm it. Rest, quality sleep, physical activity, supportive relationships, prayer and reflection, deep breathing, music, laughter, spending time in nature and talking to someone you trust can all help send a reassuring message to the brain that the immediate danger has passed. These simple actions allow the body to move from a state of constant emergency to one of recovery and healing.
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Understanding the science of stress is not about becoming afraid of it. It is about recognising the signals your body is sending and responding wisely before stress begins to affect your health. Your brain is designed to protect you, but it also depends on you to create moments of restoration.
Next week, in the final part of this series, we will focus on what you can do to manage stress effectively. We will explore practical, evidence-based strategies for building resilience, changing the way we respond to life’s pressures, and protecting both our mental and physical health. Stress may be an unavoidable part of life, but it does not have to control the way we live.
