Incident stress

When we encounter stressful or traumatic events, sometimes our brains have a really hard time processing what happened. Think of it like a computer that gets overloaded with too much information - it can freeze up and stop working properly.

This is what we call "incidental stress" - it's the stress we feel after experiencing something scary, sad, or traumatic. It can be anything from getting in a car accident or seeing someone get hurt, to experiencing a natural disaster or hearing about a tragedy in the news.

When we experience this type of stress, our bodies release a lot of extra hormones that prepare us to fight or run away (this is called the "fight or flight" response). But sometimes, even after the danger has passed, we still feel really anxious or upset. That's because our brains are still trying to process all the overwhelming information from the event.

It's really normal to feel this way after a scary or traumatic experience, and everyone reacts differently. Some people might feel emotional and have trouble sleeping or eating, while others might feel numb or disconnected from their emotions. If you're feeling this way after an upsetting event, it's important to talk to someone you trust and get help. You don't have to go through it alone!