Stressors are things that make your body feel like it’s under pressure, just like when you’re playing a game and someone says “go!” and you have to run really fast.
Imagine you're having fun at the park, sliding down a slide. That's fun, no stressor there. But then a big kid bumps into you on the way down. Oof! That’s a stressor, it makes your body feel like something is happening that needs attention.
What Stressors Can Be
Stressors can be things you see, hear, or even feel in your tummy. For example:
- A loud noise (like a fire truck)
- Something tricky to solve (like a puzzle)
- A sudden change (like going from playing outside to bedtime)
How Your Body Reacts
When something happens that feels like pressure, like the big kid bumping you, your body gets ready for action. It might make your heart go thump-thump faster, or your tummy feel a little funny.
Sometimes stressors are small, and sometimes they’re big, but all of them help you get ready to deal with what's happening! Stressors are things that make your body feel like it’s under pressure, just like when you’re playing a game and someone says “go!” and you have to run really fast.
Imagine you're having fun at the park, sliding down a slide. That's fun, no stressor there. But then a big kid bumps into you on the way down. Oof! That’s a stressor, it makes your body feel like something is happening that needs attention.
Examples
- A loud noise at night, like a fire truck siren, can be a stressor that wakes you up and makes it hard to go back to sleep.
- Getting stuck in traffic on your way to an important meeting is a common type of stressor.
- When you're worried about failing a big test, that worry itself is a stressor.
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See also
- Why Do Humans Get Sick When They're Stressed?
- What is cortisol?
- What are stress responses?
- What are micro-stressors?
- What is eustress?