Any stressor results in the automatic reaction of the body to resolve the situation, to return it to its natural state: homeostasis. Homeostasis is when the body is in a natural balanced state of physical health and emotional happiness. The body has internal mechanisms that check and balance its response to its environment which help it maintain its health (both physically and mentally).

Under conditions of excessive stress, the body loses its capacity to respond to stress and/or heal itself, both on the physical and emotional levels.

This section examines our body's physical and psychological response to distress (i.e. bad stress).