Anxiety Disorders & Responses to Stress Stress & Illness Stress and the endocrine system Stress affects the endocrine system (glands that release hormones into blood) releases ACTH, stimulates cortical steroids Chronic stress can damage bodily systems Stress and the immune system Chronic stress increases levels of interleukin-6, linked to inflammation Social support and expressing emotion through writing can help Acculturative Stress Acculturation The process of adaptation by which immigrants, native groups, and ethnic minority groups adjust to the new culture or majority culture through making behavioral and attitudinal changes Acculturative stress Pressure that results from demands placed on these groups to adjust to life in mainstream culture