What is Chronic stress?
'''Chronic stress''' is [[stress]] that happens over a long period of time. It is different than acute stress, which happens over a short period of time and then goes away. Stress is a normal part of every living thing's daily life. However, when stress becomes chronic, it can damage the body and the mind. When a person (or animal) is stressed, the body reacts in certain ways - for example, by releasing chemicals called corticosteroids.<ref>[[Robert Sapolsky|Sapolsky RM]]. (1998). Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers: An Updated Guide To Stress, Stress Related Diseases, and Coping. 2nd Rev Ed, W. H. Freeman {{ISBN|978-0-7167-3210-5}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | author = McEwen BS | year = 2007 | title = Physiology and neurobiology of stress and adaptation: central role of the brain | url = http://physrev.physiology.org/cgi/reprint/87/3/873 | journal = Physiol Rev | volume = 87 | issue = 3 | pages = 873–904 | pmid = 17615391 | doi = 10.1152/physrev.00041.2006 | access-date = 2013-03-13 | archive-date = 2010-02-09 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100209041951/http://physrev.physiology.org/cgi/reprint/87/3/873 | url-status = dead }}</ref> If this happens again and again, over a long period of time, it can change the way the brain works.<ref>{{cite journal | author = Sousa N, Lukoyanov NV, Madeira MD, Almeida OF, Paula-Barbosa MM | year = 2000 | title = Reorganization of the morphology of hippocampal neurites and synapses after stress-induced damage correlates with behavioral improvement | journal = Neuroscience | volume = 97 | issue = 2| pages = 253–266 | pmid = 0799757 | doi = 10.1016/S0306-4522(00)00050-6 | s2cid = 22401477 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal | author = Radley JJ, Sisti HM, Hao J, Rocher AB, McCall T, Hof PR, McEwen BS, Morrison JH | year = 2004 | title = Chronic behavioral stress induces apical dendritic reorganization in pyramidal neurons of the medial prefrontal cortex | journal = Neuroscience | volume = 125 | issue = 1| pages = 1–6 | pmid = 15051139 | doi=10.1016/j.neuroscience.2004.01.006| s2