Flood, What's currently stressing you out? Tell me what's on your mind, what you're worried about, and how you're handling the stress. Stress is a normal physical response to events that make you feel threatened or upset your balance in some way. When you sense danger—whether it’s real or imagined—the body's defenses kick into high gear in a rapid, automatic process known as the “fight-or-flight” reaction, or the stress response. Three most common ways people respond when they’re overwhelmed by stress: Foot on the gas – An angry or agitated stress response. You’re heated, keyed up, overly emotional, and unable to sit still. Foot on the brake – A withdrawn or depressed stress response. You shut down, space out, and show very little energy or emotion. Foot on both – A tense and frozen stress response. You “freeze” under pressure and can’t do anything. You look paralyzed, but under the surface you’re extremely agitated. Does your stress response conform to any of these?