Stress is more than feeling overwhelmed, its effects ripple through your physiology, your mental state, and your long-term health. Australian and New Zealand researchers have documented how stress plays out in real-world settings: in hospitals, in rural sectors, in housing, and among men. This post weaves together that evidence, grounded in published studies with verified sources. What Happens in the Body When We’re Stressed? When a threat or demand is perceived, the HPA axis