Stress, Anxiety, & The Nervous System

Introduction

• Podcast by Alicia Gogan from "The Globe Seekers Podcast."
• Focus on expanding the mind, self-awareness, and living a more stress-free life.
• Topics include healing, mindset work, and becoming the best version of oneself.

Understanding Stress and the Nervous System

• Soft Life Journey: Transition to a stress-free life.
• Nervous System Overview: The body's role in feelings and stress responses.
• Fight, Flight, Freeze, and Fawn Responses: Different ways our nervous system reacts to stress.

The Sympathetic Nervous System

• Fight or Flight: Prepares body to deal with stress.
  • Produces cortisol and adrenaline.
  • Increases blood pressure and heart rate, decreases digestion.
  • No distinction between real and perceived threats.

Common Triggers for Stress Response

• Financial pressures, employment, toxins, allergens.
• Emotional stress, repetitive stress, psychological stress.
• Lack of enjoyable activities, relaxation, sleep.
• Negative attitudes, beliefs, striving for perfection.
• Substances: coffee, caffeine, smoking, sugar.

Dysregulated Nervous System

• Causes:
  • Trauma or unprocessed past events.
  • Continuous exposure to danger and stress.
  • Living in unsafe environments.
  • Life transitions: death, pregnancy, divorce.
• Most people experience a level of dysregulation.

Trauma Responses

• Fight: Temper, aggression, control, impulsiveness.
• Flight: Panic, anxiety, workaholism, overthinking.
• Freeze: Depression, disassociation, decision struggles.
• Fawn: People-pleasing, codependency, lack of boundaries.

Managing Anxiety

• Changing perception of stressors.
• Identifying and understanding triggers and thoughts.
• Physical responses like increased heartbeat and sweating.
• Importance of emotional regulation and reflection.

Daily Practices for a Healthy Nervous System

• Environment: Create a calm space.
• Routine: Slow mornings/nights, less sensory overload.
• Exercise and Diet: Movement, nutritious food, hydration.
• Boundaries: Social, emotional limits to protect mental health.

Additional Strategies and Advice

• Budgeting and financial planning to reduce stress.
• Managing relationships and setting personal boundaries.
• Resources: "Anchored" book on polyvagal theory.
• Explore therapy, especially somatic therapy, for deeper body-centered healing.

Conclusion

• Emphasizes taking proactive steps to manage stress.
• Encourages introspection and self-awareness to address underlying issues.
• Resources available for further learning and self-improvement.