Dr Rangan Chatterjee explains the stress response and importance of sleep. They discuss using the physical body to calm the mind, trusting gut instincts, and the impact of loneliness. The podcast emphasizes the significance of connection, grounding, and the influence of logical and emotional brain. It also highlights using physical activities for mental well-being.
Chronic stress is a leading factor in long-term health issues and can be triggered by everyday life, impacting memory, sleep, and overall well-being.
Trusting your intuition and making decisions aligned with personal needs and values can reduce stress and lead to positive outcomes.
Simple tools like breathing exercises and physical movement can activate the relaxation response and significantly impact stress management.
Deep dives
The Impact of Chronic Stress on Health
Chronic stress is found to be the leading factor in long-term health issues. Stress responses that were originally designed to protect us from immediate threats are now being constantly activated by our daily lives, leading to a range of health problems. These stress responses include increased blood sugar levels, elevated blood pressure, heightened anxiety, and activated stress hormones. Chronic stress can impact memory, sleep, and overall mental and physical well-being. Managing stress is crucial for long-term health.
Tuning into Your Gut and Decision-Making
Tuning into your own intuition and making decisions that align with your own needs and values is key to personal well-being. Taking time for solitude and reflection, even if it's just a few minutes a day, can help you become more aware of your thoughts and feelings. Trusting yourself and taking control of your decision-making process can lead to positive outcomes and reduce stress. Simple tools like the five-step release exercise, asking yourself specific questions about anxieties or stressors, can provide clarity and a sense of accomplishment.
The Power of Breath and Small Actions
Practicing breathing exercises, even for just a few minutes, can help switch off the stress response and activate the relaxation response. Breathing techniques that involve longer out-breaths than in-breaths can help calm the nervous system. Small, proactive actions like going for a walk, doing a quick breathing exercise, or engaging in physical movement like skipping or stretching can change your physiological state and reduce anxiety. Simple tools and actions can have a significant impact on managing stress and promoting well-being.
Understanding the Impact of Sleep on Stress and Anxiety
Lack of sleep can intensify feelings of anxiety and stress. Chronic sleep deprivation can increase the reactivity of the amygdala, the emotional center of the brain, making individuals more prone to anxious thoughts and reactions. Prioritizing good sleep hygiene, practicing relaxation techniques before bed, and addressing any sleep disturbances can help reduce anxiety and promote better sleep. Restful sleep is important for overall well-being and stress management.
The Importance of Making Good Decisions for Well-being
Well-being involves making choices that align with your own needs and values, rather than following prescribed or societal expectations. Prioritizing personal sovereignty and tuning into your own thoughts and feelings can lead to better decision-making. Taking time for self-reflection, asking important questions, and considering different perspectives can help navigate stress and promote greater well-being. Each individual's well-being journey is unique, and decisions should be based on personal circumstances and what feels right for oneself.
The Need to Address Stress and Prioritize Self-care
Chronic stress and sleep deprivation have significant health implications, including potential links to conditions like dementia. It's crucial to address stress and prioritize self-care. Recognizing the impact of chronic stress on physical and mental health and taking proactive steps such as managing stress triggers, seeking support, and practicing self-care activities can make a difference. By making conscious decisions to manage stress, individuals can promote better overall health and well-being.
Our body’s stress response is cleverly designed to keep us safe, but the trouble now is that it’s being triggered by every day life – emails, caring commitments, social media, loneliness. Dr Rangan Chatterjee explains what the stress response is, and how using your physically body can often be the best way to calm your mind. In this chat, Fearne and Rangan also talk in great detail about the importance of sleep, and how to trust your own feelings rather than always needing science to back up your lived experience.
Rangan is the host of the Feel Better Live More podcast and author of 5 Sunday Times bestselling books including his latest Happy Mind Happy Life.