Physical WEllness
STRESS
definition
Stress is your body’s natural response to anything it perceives as a challenge, change, or threat.
It can be emotional, physical, mental, environmental — and over time, chronic stress wears down your entire system. In holistic wellness, we don’t just label stress as a mindset issue — we look at how it affects your nervous system, hormones, digestion, sleep, immunity, and more.
WHY IT MATTERS
Chronic stress can disrupt nearly every system in the body. It’s linked to:
Hormonal imbalance
Poor digestion and gut permeability
Sleep issues and chronic fatigue
Brain fog and memory challenges
Skin issues like eczema, hives, and acne
Inflammation and lowered immune response
Many people experience physical symptoms — headaches, tight muscles, nausea, dizziness — without realizing that stress might be the root.
Holistic Considerations
Rather than suppressing symptoms, holistic wellness asks:
“What is this stress response trying to protect me from?”
“What unmet need or dysregulated system is behind this?”
We consider nervous system dysregulation, trauma history, environmental triggers, mold, diet, and emotional patterns — not just daily responsibilities.
Stress isn’t always about “too much on your plate.” It can also come from not enough support, safety, or time for recovery.
Supportive Tools & Practices
Gentle daily supports:
Simple breathwork practices (like 4-7-8 or box breathing)
Herbal teas or tinctures (like ashwagandha, lemon balm, tulsi)
Mindful movement: walking, stretching, tai chi
A morning or evening wind-down routine
Limit blue light and overstimulation (especially before bed)
Longer-term shifts:
Address emotional roots of perfectionism or people-pleasing
Reduce exposure to toxins (they heighten the stress response)
Learn to say “no” or “not yet” with compassion
Connect with safe people or communities — nervous systems co-regulate
Explore More
Find Your Calm Page
Quiz: What’s your stress pattern? – Coming soon
Guided Journal Prompts for Overwhelm – Coming soon
Daily Nervous System Reset Ritual – Blog coming soon