Understanding the Stress Cycle: Why Completing It Matters

We all experience stress—whether from work, family, relationships, or trauma. But what often goes unnoticed is the importance of completing the stress cycle. When stress builds up in the body and isn’t released, it can lead to burnout, anxiety, chronic health issues, and emotional exhaustion.

Let’s break down the Stress Cycle, a powerful framework for understanding how our bodies process and resolve stress.

1. Perceived Stressor

Stress begins when we perceive a threat—whether it’s real or imagined. These stressors can be:

• Time-related (deadlines, being late)

• Anticipatory (worrying about future events)

• Situational (happens in the momemt, emergencies, things you can't control)

• Encounter-based (worries about interactions with others)

Our brains register this threat and signal the body to prepare for action.

2. Physiological Stress Response

In response to the stressor, our nervous system activates the fight, flight, freeze, or fawn reaction. This survival mechanism is fueled by a rush of stress hormones like:

• Cortisol

• Norepinephrine

• Epinephrine

• Corticotropin-Releasing Hormone (CRH)

These hormones increase our heart rate, tense our muscles, and sharpen our focus—but if we don’t release them, the cycle remains incomplete.

3. Stress Response Completion

This is where healing happens. Our bodies need to discharge the stress in order to return to a baseline state of calm. This part of the cycle is often skipped in modern life, but it’s essential.

Some ways to complete the stress response include:

• Movement 

• Breathworks

• Positive connection with others/animals

• Laughter

• Affection

• Crying

• Creative expression

• Rest/sleep

• Gratitude

• Self-compassion

• Meditation/prayer-

• Something greater than ourselves-

• Singing/Chanting/Humming

• Ear massage

• Change of temperature shifts

• Vagus nerve reset

• Yawning

These activities send the message to the nervous system: You are safe now. The danger has passed.

Why It Matters

If we only respond to the stressor and never complete the cycle, stress stays trapped in our bodies—impacting mental, emotional, and physical health. Completing the stress response helps regulate the nervous system, boost resilience, and prevent chronic overwhelm.

Final Thoughts

At Hopeful Waters Wellness, we support clients in identifying their unique stress patterns and building personalized tools to complete the stress cycle. Whether through play therapy, EMDR, somatic interventions, or holistic practices like ear acupuncture or sound healing, we believe healing happens when the body and mind are allowed to finish what stress started.

Want support completing your stress cycle? Let’s connect. Visit www.hopefulwaterswellness.com to schedule a consultation or learn more about our trauma-informed and holistic services.