How To De-Stress Yourself

“Dealing with your STRESS is a separate process from dealing with the things that cause your stress. To deal with your STRESS, you have to COMPLETE THE CYCLE.” Emily Nagoski, PhD/Amelia Nagoski, DMA Burnout: The Secret To Unlocking The Stress Cycle What we refer to as “Stress” can be broken down into three parts: STRESSORS: the triggers that activate the stress response in your body. Triggers can be both external and internal. These stressors cause a stress response in our body.  STRESS RESPONSES: we experience a stress response anytime our Central Nervous System registers any stressor as too much, too fast, or too soon. We may go into Fight, Flight, Freeze, or Fawn.  STRESS CYCLES: our goal is to complete the stress cycle in our bodies by giving ourselves what we really need to either calm down or to re-energize.  When we get triggered by a stressor, our  CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM tries to CONTROL it by going into a STRESS RESPONSE: FIGHT FLIGHT FREEZE FAWN The REAL problem is NOT the STRESSOR or even the STRESS RESPONSE (unless you hurt yourself or others). The REAL problem is that we stay stuck IN stress rather than COMPLETING the STRESS CYCLE.  When you notice having TOO MUCH energy in your body, you’re HYPER-aroused. When you feel this way, rate the number of your stress/activation on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 = non-existent and 10 being unbearable. Ask yourself: What do I need to do in order to calm my body down and reduce the amount of energy? Here are some coping strategies to try: Exercise Breathing shaking/bouncing Tapping tense/release your muscles Go outside Write down thoughts on paper Yell in a pillow Punch a pillow Lift weights Dance Play a sport Ask for help draw/paint/create Cross-lateral stimulation Meditation Laughter Read Anything mindful that keeps you in the present moment Color Word search Body work like massage or acupuncture Yoga Silence Stillness solitude something else?   When you notice having TOO LITTLE energy in your body, you’re HYPO-aroused. When you feel this way, rate your energy level on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 = no energy and 10 too much energy. Ask yourself: What do I need to do in order to boost or increase my energy? Here are some coping strategies to try: Focus on the five senses and how they impact your energy: What smells energize me? Experiment with essential oils… peppermint is great for this. candles/incense/soaps/perfumes/lotions What sounds/music energizes me? Create a playlist. Listen to a podcast. Listen to natural sounds on a app. What do I find energizing to look at? Is it something outside? Art? A vision board or Pinterest board? Scrapbooks/photos? What flavors/foods/textures energize me? Spicy? Chewy? Crunchy? Brush your teeth What can I touch? Certain fabrics? Massage hot/cold showers Breathwork Dancing Spending time with a pet Seeing friends Going for a drive Sitting outside something else?   If you know that you need help identifying your stressors, managing stress responses, and/or closing your stress cycles, email me to schedule a complimentary happy hour call.    Thank you for investing your valuable time and energy into listening to the podcast. I’m so very grateful for you.    If you enjoyed this episode, you can “tip the bartender” by rating and reviewing the podcast. Your review makes it easier for others to find the podcast.    Don’t forget to hit the SUBSCRIBE button to be notified any time I pour out a new episode.    My new book Intentional Intoxication: How To Deliberately Distill The Different Life You Desire, is available on Amazon. You can imbibe on the entire book in one, short, intentionally happier hour: Intentional Intoxication Book   If you’re interested to know about how I can support you in overcoming the habit of escaping or chasing, I invite you to reach out to me by using the email below and we find a time to chat: [email protected]   For a quick shot of your life’s current level of intoxication, I invite you to complete the 10 Questions on my Intoxication Inventory: Intoxication Inventory