Why does long-term stress change how we react emotionally?

[Hazel]

Do you feel more irritable, sensitive, or withdrawn after prolonged stress even if nothing major happens? How do you reset emotionally when stress builds up over time?

 

[Shree]

Long-term stress keeps the body’s alert system activated for too long, which affects brain regions involved in emotion and decision-making. In the long run, this can make reactions stronger, flatter, or less predictable. It also reduces emotional flexibility, making it harder to recover after stressful events.