Stress doesn’t always need to be a bad thing. It can be a great motivator for getting things done, like reaching a deadline or running that extra mile. But when you’re constantly under stress your body will eventually reach a breaking point, resulting in adrenal fatigue and burnout. Unfortunately, our nervous systems are often a little too adept at detecting threats. This means you don’t necessarily need a bear running at you to trigger a stress response. It could be any number of things, from organizing a holiday, to receiving a harshly worded email from a colleague. In today’s episode, we unpack how our bodies respond to stress and what we can do to cope with it in the moment. Tuning in you’ll hear us break down how our nervous systems process stress, why everyone experiences it differently, and how it can impact our relationships. We also discuss how modern life has changed the way we experience stress, the importance of taking breaks, and how you can use calming activities to help you adapt. To learn more about how stress might be affecting your relationship and how to create healthier coping mechanisms, make sure you tune in today! 

Key Points From This Episode:

• How stress can show up in your relationship dynamics.
• Our unique bodily responses to stress.
• A breakdown of the autonomic nervous system and how it responds to stress.
• The difference between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems.
• The sympathetic nervous system and how it responds to stress.
• An overview of the hormones you release when you’re stressed.
• Why so many people experience adrenal fatigue and burnout from constant stress.
• How modern life has changed the way we experience stress.
• Understanding how stress affects your digestion and your immune system.
• Why your lifestyle has a big impact on your overall health.
• The parasympathetic nervous system and how it helps you recover from stress.
• Examples of calming activities that can help you manage stress.
• The science behind breathing deeply and its effect on stress.
• How decluttering your physical space can assist in creating a stress-free environment.
• The concept of ultradian rhythms and what it teaches us about the importance of taking breaks. 
• Why taking breaks is essential for prolonged and well-functioning performance.

Tweetables:

“Your digestion slows when you're under a lot of stress, your immune system becomes suppressed, and it does not function properly. So your stress response, and fear, can suppress your immune system.” — @amy_cassels [0:12:31]

“A lot of people will have a significant reduction in their sugar cravings if they are reducing their stress.” — @amy_cassels [0:14:43]

“If you want to hit your 40s 50s 60s, and you want to be an absolute superstar, start doing these things now. And then when you get to the 40s 50s 60s and on, you're going to be so far ahead of your game.” — @amy_cassels [0:26:42]

“Your body is saying I need a break. And it needs a break so that it can replenish, repair, detox, and rebalance.” — @amy_cassels [0:26:59]

“Understand that stress can be something that is a chronic issue. And you may be under stress constantly. And you may not be able to lower your stress, but you can do something about it that will help your body go through it.” — @amy_cassels [0:39:12]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Amy Cassels

Amy Cassels on Twitter

Amy Cassels on Instagram

Amy Cassels on YouTube

ONE Way Life

Mentioned in this episode:

NingxiaRed

Sparkle Dust