Recognizing and Coping with Prolonged Stress Response

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In response to stress, the sympathetic nervous system triggers physical changes such as racing heartbeat, dilated pupils, adrenaline release. This response is meant to prepare the body for danger but should subside when the threat passes. Prolonged stress can lead to exhaustion as the body stays in a heightened state. Additionally, staying in a stress state for too long can cause the brain to operate differently, with the amygdala becoming hyperactive, leading to issues like muscle tension, sleep problems, and increased susceptibility to illness.

Survival mode is, at its core, a stress response. When our minds and our bodies are put under extreme stress or believe we are in danger, we can enter a state where all we care about is getting through the next day. This can turn us into a person we're not and make us lose the enjoyment and love for life, but also feel overwhelmed by constant panic and anxiety. In today's episode, we discuss how to break free of survival mode, the difference between our learning brain and our survival brain, why we find ourselves here to begin with, what's happening in our brain and our bodies and the best advice, tips and therapies for getting back into safe mode.

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