Purpose
Can Reducing
Really Be as
Easy as
By Lisa Brown
W
e live in a world full of chaos and commitments. Overtime, busy schedules, long work hours, family obligations, financial and health concerns, traumatic events, and varying life circumstances can lead to burnout and stress. It is no surprise that anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA). Chronic stress and anxiety, if not managed, can send our bodies into a constant state of fight, flight, or freeze, causing
the sympathetic nervous system to release high levels of stress hormones such as adrenaline and nor-adrenaline. In this state of hyper arousal, breathing becomes rapid and shallow, heart rate is elevated and muscle tension increases. This elevated response is useful in times of extreme danger, but not in our everyday lives. In addition, chronic stress and anxiety can negatively impact relationships, cause sleep disturbances, health issues, and lack of focus, among many other symptoms.
35 SUMMER 2022
Breathing?
ESSENTIAL Naples
Stress
