You know when you see someone yawn, and suddenly, you find yourself yawning seconds later? It's possible that, just like a contagious yawn, stress works similarly. Think about how many times you've felt stressed out when a partner, family member, or even coworker around you was exhibiting symptoms of stress.
So, is stress contagious? Krystal Lewis, clinical psychologist and board member of the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, explains if stress can be deemed emotionally contagious and what makes certain people more predisposed to stress.
Our Physiological Response to Stress
While specific stress responses may vary from person to person, our bodies constantly react to the people and environment around us. So, when our bodies notice a real or perceived threat in our surroundings, our physiological stress response is activated, according to Verywell Mind.
