The Science of Happiness What to Do When Stress Takes Over
9 snips
Sep 25, 2025 
In this enlightening discussion, Jenny Little, Health and Fitness Director at the East Bay YMCA, shares her personal journey through anxiety and offers a quick embodied practice to relieve stress. Psychologist Elissa Epel delves into how chronic stress affects our bodies at the cellular level, explaining that cellular aging can be reversed with proper self-care. They highlight the power of tuning into our bodily sensations to reduce anxiety and reframe uncertainty as a source of hope, empowering listeners to cultivate calmness amidst life’s unpredictability.
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A Panic Episode That Changed Her
- Jenny Little recounts a terrifying anxiety attack she experienced as a young mom after a cross-country move.
- Paramedics suggested she was under stress and reassured her the episode was anxiety, not poisoning.
Do Short Embodiment Breaks
- Create a short, interruption-free space and take a slow inhale, then scan your body for tension.
- Breathe into identified tight spots and exhale to release stress for 20–30 seconds.
Name Feelings, Don't Fix Them Now
- Ask yourself what you're feeling and whether it's about the past or future, without trying to solve it.
- Tell yourself you don't have to fix it right now and allow the stress to soften on the exhale.