Hi, Sam here. Welcome to Radio Headspace and Happy Wednesday. We're continuing with

part two of our conversation about reframing stress. And like I mentioned yesterday, experiencing

stress is an inevitable part of life. We feel it because we care, and caring is something

that we can embrace instead of trying to avoid. Many of us think of our fight or flight

response as the primary experience of stress. This response saved our ancestors from immediate

threats like being eaten by a lion or seeking shelter from a dangerous storm, but there are

other responses to stress that encourage us to learn from and connect over stressful

situations. The one I want to share with you today is known as the tend and be friend

response. You may not have heard of it, but you've probably felt it, especially in the

last couple of years. So let's break down what this response is all about. The tend and

be friend response occurs when we experience a stressful situation that makes us want

to connect and reach out to others. We can recognize this response if we've experienced

collective tragedies, or after the death of a loved one, when we feel that urge to reach

out and comfort each other. This instinct is fueled by a surge of oxytocin, which is a bonding

hormone. It's the same hormone that bonds parents to their children and couples to each other.

And this urge to connect and comfort one another is a crucial aspect of resilience, giving

us the strength and courage to bounce back after a difficult event. I've experienced this

tend and befriend response when I felt stressed and anxious about flying. When I fly, I look

around and see if I can be helpful to others who may be traveling alone, and I look for elderly

passengers who may need assistance with their luggage. From choosing this response, I have

made temporary but meaningful connections with others on many flights, sharing stories

about our travels and our collective anxieties. So with all this in mind, let's talk about how

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