Acknowledging Stress Awareness Month. What is Stress? Stress is a feeling of emotional or physical tension. It can come from any event or thought that makes you feel frustrated, angry, or nervous. It’s the body's reaction to a challenge or demand and can have both a positive and or negative impact, as the body can react to these changes physically, mentally, and emotionally. As mentioned in pt 1 of the Stress Awareness series, stress can negatively impact our hormone and gut