Stress-Related Disease: A Review

Abstract

There has been skepticism that emotions aroused in a social context can so seriously affect the body as to lead to long-term disease or death. But the work, such as that of Wolf, shows that machinery of the human body is very much at the disposal of the higher centers of the brain.... Given the right circumstances, these higher controls can drive it mercilessly, often without awareness on the part of the individual of how close he is to the fine edge. (Henry & Stephens, 1977, p. 11)

I’m at the mercy of any rogue who cares to annoy and tease me.

—John Hunter, 18th-century physician