Dealing with Stress Properly – Part 1

Welcome to Part 1 of my series on stress.

One of the biggest things I’ve noticed over the years is that we tend to combine the stress itself with the things we believe are causing it.

If you’ve had an argument with a coworker, an assignment or a bill is overdue, or you’re juggling too many responsibilities, we often say, “This person is stressing me out,” or “These bills are stressing me out.”

The problem with seeing it this way is that our focus and energy become wrapped up in those external problems. But ask yourself this: is it easier to solve problems when we’re caught up inside them, or when we’re grounded within ourselves?

That’s my advice today. Try to see the external challenges and your stress response as two related, but separate, things.

Of course, problems can trigger stress. This isn’t about pretending they don’t. Instead, it’s about recognizing that what we’re really concerned with is how our nervous system responds to those challenges.

We can’t always solve every problem immediately. Work stress, financial pressures, relationship conflict, and unexpected life events often take time to resolve. So while we begin working on the problem “out there,” we also need to make sure we’re approaching it from in here.

When we consciously bring our focus and energy back into ourselves, back to our centre, we become calmer, clearer, and far more capable. This is one of the foundations of healthy stress managementand coping with stress.

From a nervous system perspective, the parasympathetic state is where the body functions best. It’s our natural “rest, restore, and repair” mode, where digestion, healing, and clear thinking can all happen efficiently.

By contrast, the sympathetic nervous system is designed for survival. It sends our attention and energy outward, preparing us to fight, flee, or freeze. This response is incredibly useful if a car suddenly pulls out in front of you. But it was never designed to become our default way of living.

Unfortunately, many people spend so much time in this heightened state that they feel overwhelmed all the time, experience emotional exhaustion, or even reach the point of burnout. If you’ve ever found yourself asking, “Why do I feel anxious all the time?” there’s a good chance your nervous system has simply become stuck in a state of chronic alertness.

For situations that aren’t physically threatening, it’s far more effective to remain in a calm, centered, parasympathetic state - even when there’s conflict or a problem to solve.

So whenever possible, pause.

Take a step back.

Take a slow breath.

Then gently bring your awareness and your energy back into the centre of your body.

You may be surprised how different everything feels. The problems haven’t disappeared, but they’re now outside of you instead of consuming you from within. From that centred place, it’s almost always easier to think clearly, communicate effectively, and make good decisions.

This is also where Craniosacral therapy can be a powerful helping force.

Rather than simply helping you relax for an hour, Craniosacral therapy works with the nervous system to encourage a shift out of chronic sympathetic „survival mode“ activation and back toward a balanced parasympathetic „safe mode“ state. As the body lets go of stored tension and protective patterns, many people notice they feel calmer, sleep better, think more clearly, and respond to life’s challenges with greater resilience rather than reactivity.

For those experiencing ongoing anxiety, chronic work stress, emotional exhaustion, or looking for burnout recovery, craniosacral therapy offers a gentle, holistic form of stress therapy and relaxation therapy. It supports the body’s own ability to regulate itself, making it one of the many natural ways to reduce anxiety and improve overall wellbeing.

More next time, where we’ll explore practical ways to reduce our sensitivity to stress triggers and retrain the nervous system so we’re less easily pulled into that sympathetic fight-or-flight response.