Vital Habits: November 15, 2024 - V38
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Hi Reader, ​ We're addicted to it, and it's making us sick. Cardio-metabolic diseases like heart conditions, diabetes and obesity, hormone dysfunction, immune health, cancer, and mental health to name a few. ​ Types of Chronic Stress
​ Modern Life Our modern lives are much to blame. Our world is arguably the most chaotic it's ever been. We're obsessed with hustle culture, jam-packing our schedules, maximizing productivity, tethered to phones and screens, constant communication (email, slack, texts, chats, messengers, calls, meetings, follow ups, to-do's), all while juggling personal life and responsibilities. ​ This keeps us in a perpetual state of stress (fight or flight). This keep the proverbial cortisol faucet running at all times. This eventually leads to dis-ease. ​ ​ Stress Addiction Stress is a normal physiologic response, but when it's chronic it becomes unhealthy. I have spoken about this in numerous newsletters, but cannot stress (pun intended) this enough. So, how do we become addicted to stress? When we are stuck in constant perpetual state of stress we are constantly activating the hormones and chemicals associated with stress- like cortisol, dopamine and adrenaline. Over time, we can begin to condition the body and mind to be "comfortable" or "stuck" in this state. This eventually leads to changes in brain chemistry, neural pathways, and how we directly respond to stressful events. The longer this process continues, the easier it is for the brain and body to be triggered in these states. Moreover, the body can become hypervigilant even when the stress doesn't warrant the response. Essentially, lowering your stress tolerance. Here is what's even more fascinating- the body can become chemical dependent on hormones and neurotransmitters that are released during stress. Because some of these chemicals make us "feel good" we can crave recreating the scenario or state that provides us a flood of "euphoria," leading our body to chase stressful states. We can equally become uncomfortable when we are not stressed for this same reason and chase busyness, drama, conflict etc to recreate the state. Crazy! ​ I am a huge fan of Dr. Joe Dipenza's work, especially on our addictions to our personality. If you have not come across his work and are interested in how the mind and body work, I suggest reading his books. I reccomend starting with Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself. ​ Top Signs of Chronic Stress This is not an exhaustive list. ​ Helpful Exercise This is a great test to see if some of the chronic stress variables are taking hold.
​ Just like you can train your body to be in a stressed state, you can also train it to be in a rested state. Practice this exercise daily for 5-10 minutes. Check back in with yourself after 30 days and see how you have progressed! Wearable Tech If you use wearable tech (Oura, Garmin, Whoop, other), pay attention to your breathing patterns, HR, HRV and stress metrics, sleep quality and behaviors. These are all good markers of what you are doing/not doing and how they impact your health. ​ To the continued pursuit of optimal health, wealth and happiness, Rich ​ NEW EBOOK ALERT! If you’re struggling with stress, anxiety, or burnout, grab my new ebook, The Ultimate Blueprint for Conquering Stress and Anxiety! It’s packed with insights from my own journey to help you tackle these challenges. Plus, I’ve included a curated list of top-notch supplement companies to save you time and ensure you get the best products. (I will be continously improving this product to bring you the most up to date natural solutions)
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