[rnoorda]

My first year at university, I finished my last final exam (calculus I believe?) I walked out of the testing center feeling excited to be done, but just tired from all the stress. In the ~15-minute walk home, I got sicker and sicker, with a headache, sore throat, and incredibly stuffy nose. While not usually so dramatic, I often have similar experiences when taking vacation.

My theory is that my body breaks down from the stress, but can summon some adrenaline or whatever hormones to survive what I need to, but then crashes once I start to relax.