By: Jerome Fitts

Hello Everyone,

When was the last time someone genuinely asked how you were doing? Quick greetings like “what’s up,” “¿Cómo estás?” (Spanish), “Wie geht’s?” (German), “Come stai?” (Italian), “Comment ça va?” (French), “Τι κάνεις;” (Greek), and “إزيك؟” (Egyptian Arabic) don’t really convey the depth of connection we need. A simple acknowledgment like “good morning,” “good day,” or “enjoy your week” has become a rarity in 2026.

Sadly, the current global climate often revolves around heated debates and a tendency to take offense, even at those who are not offended. Stress has become commonplace, and unfortunately, it seems like a part of everyday life.

So I asked myself, why do we willingly inflict stress upon ourselves when we have the power to choose a more peaceful path? If you, the reader, find it difficult to take a moment to read this instead of consuming A.I.-generated images and voiceovers, it may indicate that you are too overwhelmed to invest in finding rational solutions to your stress. Here’s my perspective:

Constant stress responses can be adaptive, and how does this stress affect the brain?

According to an article on NeuroLaunch, “Adaptive stress responses are those that help us cope effectively with challenges, promoting resilience and personal growth” (NeuroLaunch.com, 2024).

Without insight into an unnecessary riot based on conditioning to control humans, the facts pertain to the effects of stress on the brain. If individuals are trained and conditioned to adapt to stress, it means they are better prepared to handle daily tasks and adversity.

The brain initiates the stress response. The amygdala, often referred to as the brain’s “fear centre,” is responsible for the initial detection of threats and triggers the stress response (NeuroLaunch.com, 2024). Personally, depending on the environment we inhabit, it seems that whether a person feels bothered or not can vary. I work to live rather than live to work.

I hope that isn’t offensive, but the facts remain: “Our stress response system is the autonomic nervous system, which consists of two main branches: the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) and the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS).

The SNS is responsible for the ‘fight-or-flight’ response, which prepares the body for immediate action in the face of perceived threats” (NeuroLaunch.com, 2024). In other words, we are prepared to manage what we call stress and adapt to the outcomes.

With that being written, the article also states;

**Prolonged activation of the stress response system can lead to a range of health issues, including:

1. Sleep disturbances, which can further exacerbate stress-related symptoms (NeuroLaunch.com, 2024).
2. Cardiovascular problems, such as high blood pressure and increased risk of heart disease.
3. Weakened immune function, making us more susceptible to infections and illnesses.
4. Digestive issues, including irritable bowel syndrome and acid reflux.
5. Mental health disorders, such as anxiety and depression.
6. Cognitive impairments, affecting memory and decision-making abilities

Now, let’s discuss how stress responses can be maladaptive and how this type of stress affects the brain. The article notes that “maladaptive stress responses are those that fail to address the stressor effectively and may even exacerbate the problem or create new ones” (NeuroLaunch.com, 2024).

This leads to a disproportional reaction, which is excessive relative to the actual threat, often described as “making a mountain out of a molehill”. A person who cannot adjust to changes or adversities is said to be rigid. Furthermore, some individuals continue to stress over incidents even after the problem or stressor has been resolved.

We often dwell on past experiences instead of feeling relieved that the issue has been solved. This is referred to as persistence in the stress response (NeuroLaunch.com, 2024), which can create self-defeating patterns that hinder personal growth through negative self-sabotage.

Compare how adaptive stress responses and maladaptive stress responses affect the brain.

Adaptive and maladaptive stress responses affect the brain in different ways. The brain adapts to protect the individual from similar situations, leading to memory formation that results in maladaptive responses (Toby, 2025).

Adaptive stress responses help the body combat and relieve stress. This is termed the general adaptation syndrome, which consists of three stages: the alarm reaction, the resistance or adaptation stage, and exhaustion (Alila Medical Media, 2023).

Thank you for reading.

Greetz,

JFitts

References:

NeuroLaunch.com. (2024, August 18). Stress Responses – Adaptive vs Maladaptive: Impact on Well-being and Key Differences. https://neurolaunch.com/adaptive-vs-maladaptive/

Toby. (2025, January 23). Maladaptive Behavior: What it is and How to Overcome it. Therapy Unlocked. https://therapy-unlocked.com/maladaptive-behavior-explained/

Alila Medical Media. (2023, July 24). Stress adaptation response, animation [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwGbUXGC_to