While this stress response can play an important role keeping you safe in times of real danger, it doesn’t do a good job of adjusting to the situation at hand.
Biologically, when you experience anxiety, your body’s stress response is activated, releasing stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. While this stress response can play an important role keeping you safe in times of real danger, it doesn’t do a good job of adjusting to the situation at hand. So, you feel stressed and anxious whether you’re having a first date or facing a threat to your life.