Unlocking the Science of Stress

In the fast-paced world we inhabit, stress often becomes a constant companion in our daily lives. I imagine you’ve experienced one or more of the following:

Being stuck in gridlock traffic,
Running late for a crucial appointment,
The vague text from your partner with the ominous words, “we need to talk.”
Grocery shopping with a wailing toddler in your cart because they didn’t have rainbow goldfish.

It’s a familiar scenario for many, but grasping the science behind stress can empower you to manage it effectively.

As a mental health therapist, I frequently encounter clients grappling with the effects of chronic stress. While stress naturally serves a purpose as a response designed to protect us in threatening situations, prolonged exposure to stress can seriously impact both our physical and mental well-being.

But before you paint stress as a complete villain, let’s look at the science.

The Positives of Stress

Is stress the “IT GIRL IRL?” Well, not exactly. She’s more like a sibling your mom makes you take with you so it doesn’t feel left out.

And you might want to clutch your pearls for what I’m about to say, but stress serves a purpose.

SHOCK! GASP! I know, I know, but it’s true though, just look at our biology.

When we encounter a perceived threat, our bodies release the Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift of hormones, adrenaline and cortisol. These trigger the fight or flight response which is a physiological reaction that helps us identify and respond to danger.

This response is actually ancestral (think facing predators in the wild). Obviously millions of years later, our stressors have become more complex and less life-threatening, yet our bodies still respond in the same way.

Pretty cool when you think about it. But before you get in your “stressed and happy about it” era, let’s look at what that long-term relationship may cost you.

Can’t Stop Won’t Stop- Chronic Stress

You know the saying, “too much of a good thing…” Continual activation of the fight or flight response can wreak havoc on your body. It’s like a light switch where there is no “off” option, eventually, you burn out.

It’s no secret that chronic stress has been linked to a lot of health issues, including:

High blood pressure,
Heart disease,
Digestive problems, and
Weakened immune function.

It can also exacerbate mental health conditions too, such as anxiety and depression, leading to a decline in overall quality of life.

One of the biggest challenges of chronic stress is that it can lead to maladaptive coping mechanisms, meaning, you find yourself leaning into unhealthy habits like:

Smoking,
Drinking, or
Overeating.

While those may feel good in that moment, it’s actually just a temporary relief that further compounds the problem.

Maintaining Your Zen

Honestly, using the term “stress management” makes me cringe. We’ve all heard it, and we’ve all said it, but there’s something about it that sounds so chore-like, that the thought of having to manage one more thing gives me the biggest ick.

Instead, I’ve defaulted to calling it “maintaining my zen” or “chillin’ and skillin’, to keep the vibes right and the stress light” (also, I fully recognize that I am not cool enough to speak Gen Z, but here we are).

So what can we do to keep the vibes right?

Corner Your Chaos

In almost every blog about stress ever, someone is going to mention self-care activities. And as the queen of self-care, I’ll be the first to tell you how great they are, but as engaging and enjoyable as those activities might be to prioritize relaxation, there are additional steps you can take to address stress at its root.

You’re going to have to identify the source(s) of your stress. At a glance you probably can easily rattle off things that are causing you stress, and while those things are valid, you’ve got to dig a bit deeper to zone-in on those triggers.

Keep a journal, do a voice memo on your phone, something, anything to track your stress triggers, thoughts, and mood. This will help you pinpoint patterns and develop strategies for coping.

You won’t be able to corner your chaos and proactively move forward without identifying and understanding your triggers.

Ship It

Want to know the antidote to stress? Relationships. And not just any relationships, I’m talking about the kind where you can phone it in at any hour, and verbally dump it all out in the universe with no judgment.

Whether it’s a family member or friend, that is the relationship that you need to lean on when you are in need of connection, because those are the ones that are invaluable during your challenging times.

See Ya Shuffle

It may not be the hottest new line dance to a Beyonce song, but you have to learn to walk away from triggering situations.

Walking away is not an admission of defeat, it is how you are going to be able to protect your peace. Step back before you react impulsively, and give yourself the space you deserve to regroup and approach the situation with a clear mind.

Don’t let your hindsight be 20/20.

Stop Doin’ Too Much

The amount of kids I’ve heard say “you’re doin’ too much” is truly alarming.

Did I google that saying to figure out what it means? Yes.

Do I now understand the foreign language of teens? Not a chance.

But actually, given in this context really makes a lot of sense. We spend so much of our time in the rat race of life, whether we are willing to admit to that or not, that we end up bouncing from trigger to trigger without even realizing it.

You gotta slow down fam. Look at the parts of the world that prioritize rest and relaxation. They are often more productive, happier, and (no-brainer) less stressed.

Put the U (you) back in VALUE. Yes, that means going to sleep instead of doom-scrolling, trading that 3pm caffeine fix with some water, committing to taking back what’s yours: your mental and physical health.

If that sounds repetitive to all the other advice out there, well, it is. That’s because that’s the only way to successfully reign it back in

Is The Struggle Too Real? Phone It In.

Stress is kind of like a chess game, you have to be one step ahead, but sometimes it’s too hard to get there on your own, that’s where we can help. Believe it or not, stress is a big reason why people come to us, and that’s because it’s something that can take so much away from us without even realizing it. It’s also hard to know where we need to scale back when everything is important and has a seemingly deadline of tomorrow.

We have providers who can offer personalized strategies and support to help you identify and address the themes in your life that are moonlighting as the good stuff, but are actually just stress with a sense of style.

With three office locations in the greater Charlotte area and virtual appointments to suit your busy schedule, mental health access has never been easier. Head to our Contact page and send us all the details, so we can get you back to being the same you, but the version that’s in control of your life.

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