Stress is a natural response to life’s challenges and can be a force for good, but when it starts to overwhelm us then it can become a real problem.

In conditions of prolonged stress, there is a constant production of stress hormones, but in fuelling the body’s continual state of readiness there’s less energy for maintaining healthy cells. Now it becomes obvious why stress over a long period is not healthy and will sooner or later take its toll on our wellbeing.

Everyone reacts differently to stress. To some people it is ...