If you think about it, stress is a natural response that mobilizes energy to meet demands. Fully recovering from stress is beneficial, as it enhances our ability to cope in the future. Stress activates the sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight response), which can manifest as urgency, anxiety, focus, or drive.
Ideally, after the stressor passes, both the sympathetic and vagus nerve systems return to normal, marked by a sense of discharge or closure.
Chronic stress disrupts this balance, with the vagus nerve becoming less active and the sympathetic system staying elevated, affecting our ability to regulate stress responses. This imbalance can be triggered by subconscious perceptions of safety or threat based on past experiences.
Ultimately, what determines trauma is subjective, and is influenced by genetics, values, culture, and personal history, but its impact on the nervous system, seen in conditions like PTSD, highlights its lasting effects. [MP note: we summarised Jessica’s response here for brevity]