# How Stress Affects Your Body & Mind | English Podcast ๐ŸŽง An episode of [Simple English Podcast](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1853750935), 9 Apr 2025, 10 min. Audio: https://anchor.fm/s/fcaca268/podcast/play/101049567/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2025-3-9%2Fdd240da6-a981-e827-27b1-da8397c14370.mp3 Welcome back to Simple English Podcast! In today's episode, we explore an important topic: How Stress Affects Your Body & Mind ๐Ÿง  ๐ŸŽ Here is the FREE PDF file of today's episode: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dAvmfR3rVQ0Epvh2e4NKb6mqdCCj2Fqn/view Join us as we talk about how stress impacts your physical health and mental well-being. Youโ€™ll learn useful English vocabulary related to emotions, health, and everyday stress management while improving your listening skills. This episode is ideal for anyone who wants to expand their English and understand how stress can affect your daily life, mood, sleep, and overall energy. Whether you're preparing for exams, building your English skills, or simply curious about how to handle stress better, this episode provides practical tips and vocabulary that support a healthier, more balanced lifestyle. Donโ€™t miss out on our simple, clear lessons designed to help you every day. ๐Ÿ‘‰ Enjoying the content? Please like, comment, and share your thoughts on how you deal with stress and what helps you relax!โ–ถ Donโ€™t forget to subscribe to our channel https://www.youtube.com/@Simple_English_Podcast โ–ถ Other Playlists :๐Ÿ“š Stay Curious, Stay Interesting: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbz9Bb8oy2VqtHSacvmZkxSCxl7f30y5 ๐ŸŽง Learning English With Podcasts: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbz9Bb8oy2V5VSbapb_9kYsbJF8q4F_Y ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ English Podcast for Beginners: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsbz9Bb8oy2XIs_941NSfNTgJ_P-iyeVH #EnglishPodcast #LearnEnglishPodcast #HowStressAffectsYou #MentalHealthAwareness #SimpleEnglishPodcast #Podcast ## Transcript [0:04] Hello everyone, welcome back to the Simple English Podcast where [0:08] we make learning easy and fun. I'm Lisa, your host, and today's [0:12] topic is something I think we all deal with, stress. [0:16] Have you ever had days where you feel overwhelmed, tired, or just [0:20] not yourself? We all have, right? [0:23] But do you know why this happens? [0:25] What's really going on in your body and mind when you're [0:28] stressed? Today, we're going to break down [0:31] how stress effects both your physical and mental health. [0:34] To help us understand it better, we have David here with us. [0:38] David is an expert in health and Wellness, and he's going to [0:41] explain what stress does to us and why managing it is so [0:45] important. Don't forget to check out the [0:47] free PDF file in the comments section below to get the full [0:51] transcript and new vocabulary for this episode. [0:59] Hi, David. Thanks for joining us. [1:02] Hi Lisa, thanks for having me on the show. [1:04] Stress is definitely something we all experience, but many [1:07] people don't realize just how much it can affect our bodies [1:09] and minds. I'm excited to break it all down [1:12] for your listeners today. I'm sure our listeners will find [1:15] this super helpful. And for those listening, make [1:18] sure you stay tuned because later in the episode we'll share [1:21] a fun fact about stress that might surprise you. [1:24] So let's dive in. David, can you start by [1:27] explaining what happens in the body when we feel stressed? [1:30] Sure, when you're stressed, your body goes into something called [1:34] fight or flight mode. This is your body's natural [1:37] response to danger. Let's imagine for a moment that [1:40] you're walking in the woods and suddenly a Big Bear jumps out. [1:44] Your brain immediately senses the danger, and it prepares your [1:47] body to either run away or fight the bear. [1:50] Obviously most of us would run. I'd definitely be running too. [1:55] Exactly. So what happens next is your [1:57] brain sends signals to your body to release stress hormones like [2:01] adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones prepare your [2:04] muscles, increase your heart rate, and make you breathe [2:07] faster. All of this is your body's way [2:10] of getting ready to either fight or run, Hence the name fight or [2:14] flight. Wow, so that's why your heart [2:17] starts beating really fast when you're scared or stressed. [2:20] But what about daily life? We're not facing bears every [2:24] day, so why do we feel stressed in situations like work or [2:28] school? That's a great point. [2:30] Even though we're not facing life threatening situations like [2:33] bears or lions, our body reacts to modern stress in the same [2:37] way. For example, if you have a big [2:39] presentation at work, or if you're late for an important [2:41] meeting, your body still goes into that fight or flight mode, [2:45] even though the situation isn't dangerous in the same way. [2:48] So even something like a tough deadline or a lot of homework [2:51] can trigger that response. Exactly. [2:55] Your body doesn't know the difference between a real [2:57] physical threat like a bear, and a mental or emotional challenge, [3:01] like a stressful day at work or school. [3:03] The same stress hormones are released and your body goes [3:06] through the same physical changes. [3:08] Your heart beats faster, your muscles tense up, and your brain [3:11] stays on high alert. This is useful in the short [3:14] term, like if you need to focus and get through a difficult [3:17] situation, but when stress lasts for a long time it can be [3:21] harmful. So what happens if we're [3:24] stressed all the time, Like if we're always dealing with [3:27] deadlines or personal problems? Does that put too much pressure [3:30] on our bodies? Yes, and that's the problem with [3:34] chronic stress. When you're stressed all the [3:36] time, your body stays in fight or flight mode for too long. [3:39] That can lead to serious health problems. [3:42] For example, stress can raise your blood pressure, which [3:44] increases the risk of heart disease. [3:46] It can also weaken your immune system, making it harder for [3:49] your body to fight off illness. That's why people who are [3:52] constantly stressed often get sick more easily. [3:55] Wow, that's pretty scary. So stress can actually make us [3:58] physically sick. Yes, it can. [4:01] Stress effects more than just your mind, it impacts your [4:04] entire body. It can cause headaches, stomach [4:07] problems, and trouble sleeping. And over time, it can even lead [4:10] to bigger problems like heart disease, diabetes and other [4:13] chronic conditions. I've heard people say that they [4:16] get a stress headache, so that's a real thing, right? [4:19] Absolutely. When you're stressed, the [4:22] muscles in your neck and shoulders can tense up, which [4:25] can lead to headaches. Stress also affects your [4:27] digestive system. That's why some people feel sick [4:30] to their stomachs when they're anxious or worried. [4:33] I think a lot of people can relate to that. [4:36] But stress doesn't just affect the body, right? [4:39] What about the mind? You're right, stress can have a [4:42] big impact on your mental health, too. [4:44] When you're stressed, it can be hard to focus, make decisions, [4:48] or even remember things. This happens because stress [4:51] affects the part of your brain called the hippocampus, which is [4:54] responsible for memory and learning. [4:57] Overtime, chronic stress can also lead to anxiety and [4:59] depression. So it's not just about feeling [5:02] overwhelmed, it actually changes how your brain works. [5:06] Exactly. Chronic stress can shrink parts [5:09] of your brain, making it harder to handle new challenges. [5:12] That's why it's so important to manage stress before it becomes [5:15] too much to handle. Now that we've talked about all [5:22] the serious effects of stress, let's take a quick break for our [5:26] fun fact of the day. Sounds good. [5:29] Did you know that not all stress is bad for you? [5:32] Really. That's surprising. [5:35] Yes, there's something called you stress, which is positive [5:38] stress. This kind of stress helps [5:40] motivate you and can actually improve your performance. [5:44] For example, when you're about to give a presentation or take [5:47] part in a competition, a little bit of stress can help you stay [5:50] focused and energized. It's your body's way of getting [5:53] you ready to perform at your best. [5:55] That's really interesting. So a little stress can be [5:59] helpful. Exactly. [6:01] The key is balance. Too much stress is harmful, but [6:05] a little stress can push you to succeed, whether you're studying [6:08] for an exam, training for a race, or working on a big [6:11] project. I guess that's why some people [6:14] say they work better under pressure. [6:16] It's that positive stress. That's right, but of course we [6:20] don't want too much of it or it turns into negative stress. [6:24] Well, this has been a really eye opening discussion. [6:27] We've learned so much about how stress effects both our body and [6:31] mind. It's amazing and a little scary [6:34] how something we all experience every day can have such a big [6:37] impact on our health. It is. [6:40] Stress is a natural part of life, but the important thing is [6:43] how we manage it. Things like regular exercise, [6:46] practicing relaxation techniques like meditation or deep [6:50] breathing, and taking time for yourself can really help reduce [6:53] stress. That's great advice, David. [6:56] I hope our listeners take these tips to heart and find ways to [6:59] manage their stress before it becomes harmful. [7:03] Any final thoughts before we wrap up? [7:06] Just to remind everyone that stress is something we all deal [7:08] with and it's OK to feel stressed from time to time, but [7:12] it's important to listen to your body and mind and take action [7:15] when you start to feel overwhelmed. [7:16] Small changes in your daily routine can make a big [7:19] difference in how you handle stress. [7:22] Thank you so much, David. This has been such an [7:24] informative and helpful conversation. [7:27] And to all our listeners, we hope you've learned something [7:30] new today. If you enjoyed this episode, [7:32] don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe to the Simple [7:36] English Podcast. We've got more interesting [7:38] topics coming your way, so stay tuned. [7:41] Thanks, Lisa. It was great being here. [7:48] Now it's time to learn some important vocabulary related to [7:51] the topic. The first word of today is [7:54] stress. It means a physical or emotional [7:57] response to a challenging or demanding situation. [8:01] Example work deadlines often cause me a lot of stress, [8:05] especially when there's not enough time. [8:08] Next word is fight or flight. It means the body's automatic [8:12] response to danger, preparing to either confront or escape the [8:16] threat. Example. [8:19] When she saw the dog running toward her, her body went into [8:22] fight or flight mode. Next word is cortisol. [8:26] It means a hormone released by the body in response to stress [8:30] Example. Long term stress can cause your [8:33] body to produce too much cortisol, leading to health [8:35] issues. Next word is adrenaline. [8:38] It means a hormone that increases heart rate and energy [8:41] levels, especially in stressful or exciting situations. [8:46] Example. Before the big presentation I [8:49] could feel the adrenaline kicking in. [8:51] Next word is chronic. It means something that lasts [8:55] for a long time or happens frequently like long term [8:59] stress. Example. [9:01] Chronic stress can lead to health problems such as high [9:04] blood pressure. Next word is immune system. [9:08] It means the body's defense system that protects against [9:11] illness and infections. Example. [9:14] Stress can weaken your immune system, making you more likely [9:18] to get sick. Next word is tension. [9:22] It means a state of tightness or strain often felt in the body [9:26] due to stress. Example. [9:29] After a long day, I often feel tension in my shoulders and [9:33] neck. Next word is anxiety. [9:36] It means a feeling of worry or fear, often caused by stress. [9:40] Example, too much stress at work can lead to anxiety and trouble [9:45] sleeping. The last word of today is [9:47] relaxation techniques. It means methods used to calm [9:51] the mind and body, reducing stress. [9:54] Example, deep breathing and meditation are relaxation [9:58] techniques that can help manage stress. 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