PHW Newsletter - Edition 5

A Word from Dr. Grady

Understanding and Managing Stress

Stress, “the non-specific responses of the body to any demand for change”. For most people, the term stress generally has a negative connotation even though not all stress is necessarily bad. Good stress is referred to as eustress while bad stress is known as distress. It’s natural to avoid any type of stress, but it’s important to acknowledge that eustress is how we get physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually stronger and more resilient. Even distress, in moderation, can increase resilience to future stressful events through positive coping, reflection, and endurance.

Now, this is not to diminish the negative impact of distress on our health, which can be quite significant. Several body systems are impacted by increased inflammation and hormonal imbalances in response to stress. High levels of stress can even suppress our immune function, making it more likely for us to be sick, more often. Sometimes, it’s our reactions or responses to stress that can cause health problems versus the stress itself. For example, coping mechanisms like overeating or substance abuse can lead to additional health problems like obesity and high blood pressure. Furthermore, studies [1] have shown that even the perception of stress can affect our physical and emotional health, highlighting how a fear-based mindset can have a negative impact on our health. This makes it all the more important that we analyze our stress responses to ensure they are based in reality.

While we cannot (and should not) make all the negative stressors in our lives simply disappear, we can improve our resilience to them and take action to reduce their harm. Most of us can benefit from additional tools to tackle the stress in our lives. From lifestyle approaches to natural supplements, there are many ways to address the various forms of stress. It is vital to our overall wellness to develop healthy ways to cope with life’s stress, such as exercise, meditation, or creative endeavors. Breathwork, mind-body therapy, and other bodywork practices are also helpful for regulating the nervous system during times of stress, helping prevent detrimental effects on our health.

It is important to remember that stress is not always about an emotional state. The stress responses of the body don’t necessarily differentiate between emotional and physiological stress. Feeling anxious in your body with no worries in your mind? What environmental stressors might your body be enduring? Lack of sleep, toxin exposure, nutrient deficiencies, or other body stressors can have similar impacts on the body as emotional stress. If you feel that you might benefit from more information or need help on how to begin addressing the stress in your life, make an appointment to discuss this with your provider. We can work together to identify sources of stress, whether they are physical or psychological. Our hope would be to develop a plan to decrease the amount of stress you are enduring and take actions that support the mind and body, to maintain stability in the nervous system, and prevent damage to body systems.