Let's Face it, Stress Happens!
But the real question is, how do you deal with it? Do you spin out and get taken over by the overwhelm? Lose sleep and have big reactions to small situations? Or do you retreat into yourself and just want to throw the covers over your head and try to forget about it all? Or are you the one that wants to run around and fix everything to make it right and then burn yourself out?
If any of the reactions above sounds familiar, the good news is that there is another way.
In the science of the brain and stress resiliency there has been identified a “low road” response, like the examples above, and a “high road” response. Neuroscience describes the “low road” as “involved activation of the amygdala, a structure in the midbrain that serves to detect a threat to our survival and set into motion a biobehavioral response that would facilitate fighting or fleeing. This response involves faster breathing, rapid heart rate, sweating and other physiological reactions that we subjectively experience as fear.” *
Taking the "high road" is a more sustainable route.
Research found that on the high road in the brain “information travelled to the prefrontal cortex (the CEO or executive functioning center of the brain) first where it was processed before being relayed to the amygdala. This pathway was slower, allowing time for a more thorough analysis of the situation”.*
This means that you can respond to stress in a way that is thoughtful and allows for choices. You approach the stressful situation by taking a pause, a quiet breath, and are able to step back for a moment to assess the factors involved and make informed choices about how you are going to proceed.
This response also helps to maintain good relationships by not getting flooded by emotions such as anger or impatience with others, rather, you are more able to listen to another’s point of view and can more easily find resolution.
So how do you get to the high road of responsiveness rather than taking the low road of reactivity?
The direct doorway in is to work with your nervous system through embodied practices like movement, breath work, and your attention to sensations and thought patterns.
Whether you feel up-regulated in an anxious mind-spinning state, or down regulated in a dull fatigued brain fog or somewhere in between, the way to balance is the same; embodied practices adapted to your needs to help regulate your nervous system and get you on your way to the high road.