Understanding Stress
Understanding Stress And ways to regulate it We live in a society where stress is the norm, and we’re seeing an epidemic of stress-related disorders. Of course, stress is not entirely avoidable. There will always be stressors in life. The goal isn’t to learn to avoid stress, but rather to teach ourselves better ways with which we can manage it.
We’ve become disconnected to the needs of our minds and bodies, and many Americans are using some sort of substance to manage mood and stress. Did you know the top-selling items in the grocery store are caffeine, sugar, alcohol and nicotine? These items are self-soothing and have caused us to forget to use the best tool we have to control stress; our mind!
The body is constantly giving us feedback, but we need to have the mental clarity to be able to listen and adjust. The mind-body connection is powerful. Leveraging your mind to help calm the body is the ultimate hack for mitigating stress.
Want to know a secret? Here’s how to do it:
(CAN WE TURN THIS INTO AN INFOGRAPHIC?)
Step 1 – Address the root cause: first get to the bottom of the stressors being placed on your body and your mind. Is it a vitamin or mineral deficiency? Allergy? Gut microbiome out of balance? Lack of sleep? Putting too much on your plate? Work life balance? An elimination protocol is a great place to start.
Step 2 – Relax: easier said than done, right? It’s important to learn how to “actively” relax. Helping mend the mind/body connection requires work and requires some level of effort. Watching tv or drinking doesn’t count as a relaxation activity. Intentionally thinking about relaxing and eliminating other distractions from your mind…that’s where you find success.
Step 3 – Have a growth mindset: learning new skills not only helps the brain stay sharp, but also allows you the space to find out what works best for you and your body, be it meditation, deep breathing, relaxing massage, long walks, a warm sauna, the options are endless. Having the mindset to be open to new activities allows you to grow in the right places and stay sharp! Step 4 – Get moving: we know intentional movement keeps coming up. But it’s because it’s so critically important. Not only is exercise a powerful physical component to have in your life, but it’s even been proven to do a better job at healing the mind than common depression medications. It’s a well-studied way to burn off stress chemicals and provide yourself with mental healing.
Step 5: Clean up your nutrition: less of the quick fixes like caffeine, alcohol and sugar and more of the nutrient dense foods, supplements and herbs that help relax and heal the mind. Yes, this can be a difficult task. But we’ve given you the resources to make it happen.
Step 6: Find your tribe: intentionally building a healthy network of people around you is so powerful in helping to achieve both long and short term physical and mental health goals. Relish in their achievements, and they will relish in yours. Teamwork makes the dream work.
