Equity Inclusion Leadership

This is your brain under stress.

Chronic stress can effect hormones in the brain, including cortisol and corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). CRF coordinates fight/flight/freeze responses, related to anxiety, cognitive changes, and emotional regulation.

This is your body under stress. It affects all systems of the body including the musculoskeletal, respiratory, endocrine, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, nervous, and reproductive systems

It’s a stressful time at time of writing, in a fuel crisis, multiple international wars, a stressful government in many countries for any leftie like me, including here in Aotearoa.

These conditions are associated with stress:

***PLEASE see a doctor if you experience any of these and they are worrying you or your family members and contact emergency numbers as and if needed***

Anxiety,

Behavioural issues

Depression,

Heart disease,

High blood pressure,

Inflammation,

Digestive issues,

Headaches,

Fertility,

Sleep disorders,

Weakened immunity,

Skin conditions like eczema

Can worsen existing diseases, such as diabetes and arthritis,

So what can we do to reduce stress?

Or more importantly, what can we do to mitigate the effects of stress if we still need to interact with a very stressful world?

1) Time with nature

Go to a cafe and photograph or sketch some greenery. Grow a plant. Visit a forest. Sow some seeds. Go forest bathing. Bring a seat, a wheelchair, a walking frame to somewhere with birds and trees and listen. Walk by the beach and make friends with some cute dogs.

Look at pictures of trees if you’re stuck in hospital (as I am as I write this). It has been found to chill you out!

2) Time with friends and family

Connect with people around you who you feel comfortable with, such as family, friends and/or neighbours. I get it, family can be stressful. Chosen family is also important. If you need boundaries from toxic or manipulative people in your life, set those boundaries.

When you are under stress, relaxing and interacting with other great humans can help reduce the feelings of stress.

If you feel isolated, start creating a routine to talk to a regular bus driver, caffeine addiction attendant (barista), colleague or neighbour for a few times each week.

If you are a busy and unwell human like me (with my own inflammation condition endometriosis), get dates for hanging with friends in the diary and reschedule as health allows. Do NOT stress if people get angry about you rescheduling due to health. Find different less angry friends.

There’s someone out there for you to be friends with, I just know it. If people like certain US presidents can make friends, you definitely can.

2) Gentle and cardiovascular exertion.

Exercise helps inflammation by leading to an anti-inflammatory response. Exercising can also increase neurogenesis (the production of new brain cells) in important areas. It also can improve your mood and cognition (thinking). Cool huh? I highly recommend this book to learn more.