If you think your stress is going to kill you, it just might. When stress is perceived as negative, with a feeling of loss of control, then the fight-or-flight (adrenaline) response is activated for prolonged periods. Cortisol, other glucocorticoids, and clotting factors are stimulated. Severe sympathetic stress can even switch off neurotrophic growth factors, to the degree that even exercise won’t restore a stable state. You end up marinating your daily life in a damaging biochemical stew.
