In our modern fast pace society, we have a tendency to underestimate the amount of stress we are under on a daily basis. In the work I do with clients, one of the first things I ask them to do is re-define the word “stress”: “Stress is anything that places a burden on the body resulting in inflammation or imbalance.”
Finding the right definition of stress
Typically when we hear the word “stress” we think of mental or emotional stress, and common things such as challenges within our relationships or family, tough to deal with bosses, crappy coworkers, traffic, the loss of a loved one or friend, trying to meet expectations and deadlines.
BUT stress can also be:
👉Foods you’re eating that aren’t right for your body or that cause inflammation - I see this A LOT in my practice!
👉Going to bed late or getting a bad night’s sleep (especially consistently)
👉 Over exercising or intense exercise when the body is already stressed - very common for all go-getters!
👉Not exercising or moving your body enough regularly
👉 Toxins that you can’t always see, hear or feel in your environment
👉Nutrient deficiencies that you might be unaware of
👉Tight muscle or joints that are out of alignment
👉 Traveling and crossing different time zones
No matter what the stressor might be, the body reacts in the same way, activating the sympathetic nervous system, more commonly known as your “fight or flight response.”
What is the "fight or flight response"?
The fight or flight response is a brilliant but old primal instinct, that was originally developed to keep us safe from harm. This mechanism was developed to help us deal with acute, or short-term stress, not the low-grade constant stress we now encounter on a daily basis.
Here is the classic textbook example of this instinctual response…If you were to encounter a lion on your lunch break, your body would activate the flight or fight response instantly, sending blood flow to your arms and legs for quick moving, and to your brain for quick thinking so you could find a way to outrun or out-smart the lion. You don’t have to think for a second about this, your body just does it - brilliant right?
While we don’t encounter lions on our lunch break, or in our daily lives at all (unless you’re at the Zoo or on a safari breaking the rules, LOL) - the body responds to our modern day stressors just the same - directing blood flow outward for quick action, leaving little resources for digestion or the vital actions needed to actually heal the body. The smallest things in our daily routine can trigger the fight or flight response resulting in a decreased ability to digest food, combat colds and the flu, and which can ultimately add up leading to weight gain, hormone imbalances, low energy, poor sleep and generally not feeling like yourself. Stuff that could be triggering the stress response in your body might be things you wouldn’t even think of such as watching the news, sitting in traffic during your typical commute even though your enjoying your favorite podcast, and working through your lunch break. We underestimate the stress response because these actions or behaviors are so common. But the fact that they are common DOES NOT mean they are normal!
Let’s take a look at where you might be encountering subtle stress throughout the day without even realizing it…
👉Are you always on the run, stacked back-to-back with meetings, trying to get from one place to another on time, or feel like you’re “on” in your job or as a parent from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to bed?
👉Do you find yourself drinking your smoothie or eating breakfast on the way to work, working through your lunch break, or rushing to get dinner on the table or eating dinner fast so you clean up after and get on with the rest of your nightly routine?
👉Do you get worked up about our political climate, watching the news, scrolling Facebook or social media?
Moving fast through life like this activates the fight or flight response all day long. All of these actions induce the fight or flight response also. See how quickly the amount of stress our body deals with on a daily basis can add up, without you even realizing it?
The stress bucket theory
Constant subtle stressors add up quickly throughout the day, keeping the body in a constant fight or flight mode, resulting in minimal resources to aid in digestion and healing, leaving the body depleted, and eventually leading to a lack of energy, hormone imbalances, digestive upset and other health issues. Imagine a bucket, and for every stressor you encounter one drop goes into your bucket. If you don’t do something to minimize the number of drops or empty the bucket, it will eventually overflow. We can’t always control all of the stressors we encounter, but we can aim to minimize them as much as possible and to empty our stress bucket throughout the day.
Typically the only time we’re in a totally relaxed state in this modern day world is when we’re asleep, and that’s only if you’re a great sleeper. If you struggle with insomnia then your relaxed time is drastically diminished. But even a good night’s rest isn’t enough anymore to combat the rising number of stressors and demands our body faces on a daily basis. To support your ideal health and weight, you want to look for opportunities to slow down in your daily life so you can empty your stress cup and allow the body to heal and digest.
How can you "empty" your stress bucket?
Here are a few ways you can easily empty your stress cup throughout the day:
👉Do some deep breathing; inhale for 5 seconds, hold for 5 and exhale for 7
👉Schedule breaks to get outside, get some fresh air and breath
👉 Chew bites 20 times or put down your fork in between bites to slow eating
👉 Create a daily meditation, journaling or tapping routine
👉Cuddle or exchange hugs to boost oxytocin hormone which decreases stress hormones
These are super simple acts, that don’t require much effort, but can make a BIG difference in your overall health. In order to maximize digestion and for the body to heal, you must be in a relaxed state!
Other actions that help to reduce the overall stress burden include:
👉 Eating an anti-inflammatory diet
👉 Sleeping during the hours of 10pm - 6am
👉 Exercising at an intensity that is right for you
👉 And minimizing your exposure to stress inducing environmental toxins
Lastly, start to notice how stress shows up in your body, because it’s different for everyone. It could be in the form of aches and pains, skin rashes or breakouts, losing your hair, low energy, disrupted sleep, weight gain and more. Once you get in tune with the signs of stress in your body, you can take quick action to empty your stress bucket.
And if you’re not sure about how much stress your body might be dealing with, you can TEST instead of guessing by doing a Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis Test as this test can give us an amazing glimpse into your nervous system health by indicating the stage of stress you are in (chronic vs acute) & how your body is using up minerals to keep your body from burning out!
If you’d like to get your hands on the right lab tests and resources to measure your body’s stress burden and strategies to reduce it, then schedule a Discovery Call with me!
Disclaimer: This post is intended for inspirational and informational purposes only, is not a substitute for medical advice, and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. Consult with your healthcare provider before making any changes to your routine.
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