The Biology of Bouncing Back

Your brain responds to stress with a cocktail of cortisol and adrenaline — the fight-or-flight response. In resilient people, this system activates quickly and then shuts off quickly. In less resilient people, it stays elevated, creating chronic stress.

The good news: this shutdown mechanism can be trained. Regular exposure to manageable stress — exercise, cold water, challenging social situations — teaches your nervous system to return to calm faster. Stress inoculation works like a vaccine: small doses build your capacity for larger ones.