People with this Stress Type tend to have a lot of negative thoughts and see the world from a glass half-empty perspective.

The brain-imaging work at Amen Clinics shows that this type is commonly seen in people who have too much activity in an area of the brain called the deep limbic system, also known as the brain’s emotional center.

The limbic system is involved in setting the emotional tone of the mind, how you interpret everyday events, storing emotionally charged memories, and more.

With overactivity in the limbic system, the emotional brain works too hard, and people have a tendency for sadness, negative thinking, negative perception of events, and feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.

People with this Stress Type tend to have low levels of neurochemicals called endorphins, which play a role in managing pain and severe stress.