The Burnout Series

a predator and must hide for an extended period, we can make it through the famine. But these fat stores can easily reach the heart’s arteries and cause blockages.

Increased blood pressure and high blood glucose make the blood more viscous (sticky), resulting in an even more erratic flow of blood, further exacerbating the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Michigan alone experienced a 123% increase in cardiovascular deaths since March 2020!

Since the brain operates on a fixed fuel budget, it has evolved to shift energy resources as necessary, meaning mental processes are competitive.

It’s simply not possible to have all of our neurons firing at once. When one structure of the brain is active, it comes at the expense of another. In chronic stress, the HPA axis, the grouping of the Hypothalamus—Pituitary gland—and the Adrenal glands all require fuel to keep the system on alert. The thinking parts of the brain are robbed of energy, so our ability to focus, learn new material, recall things we know, think creatively, problem-solve and be productive members of society are all hindered. We become more vulnerable to issues like anxiety and depression.

Even if you’re not experiencing anxiety or depression, experts like Dr. Adam Grant, professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, warned that those who are languishing or feeling “blah” are 3x more likely to cut back on work due to not feeling like themselves. According to Professor Grant, those currently languishing are also more likely to develop depression and anxiety in the next decade—even more so than those who now suffer from anxiety and depression.

Additionally, during stress, hormones like adrenaline bind to muscle spindles to ratchet up the resting tension of the muscles to keep us ready to respond—fight, flight, freeze—at a moment’s notice. Again, as a protective mechanism meant for a much simpler time, but now, we’re constantly bombarded by stressful stimuli, and our headaches, jaw tension, and neck and back pain are a result of the stuck stress.

Anxiety and depression are holding steady at 3-4x pre-pandemic levels.

Sitting in less-than-ideal working positions during the height of the pandemic further contributed to the neck, back, and hip tension and pain, with many continuing to suffer despite returning to normal working conditions.

Additionally, isolation, as we all went through during quarantine, activates the same area of the brain responsible for physical pain and can have lasting effects.

Chronic exposure to stress hormones, cortisol, and adrenaline has been shown to sever the synaptic connection. It can eventually lead to physically shrinking brain structures like the hippocampus— responsible for committing things to longterm memory.

75-90% of all doctor visits are for stressrelated ailments and complaints. This is a real cause for concern.

This may seem daunting, but taking a proactive approach can reverse these effects and empower you to feel better than you have in years. Learning a few simple techniques can help you rebalance your nervous system freeing your body and For example, when stressed, we tend to breathe quite shallowly, unknowingly perpetuating the stress cycle, accumulating more and more stuck stress in our bodies.

However, let’s try to breathe slowly through our nose and more deeply into our diaphragm. We can make a profound shift in how our bodies feel, how much energy we have, and how productive we are, and it can also positively influence every system of our bodies!

And the best part is, many of the techniques, like the one above, can be done anytime, anywhere, and take no time out of your busy life.

If you’d like to learn more, you will find many other evidence-based techniques to reverse the stuck stress in our fun and dynamic BURNOUT RECOVERY

PROGRAM, a 12-week online, on-demand course.

Danielle Beller

Danielle is a Health Educator, Mental Health Advocate, and owner of Back to Life Bodyworks. She designed an online Burnout Recovery program to help others with recovery and prevention. She understands burnout from the inside and has made her program engaging, fun, and effective. Read more at www.backtolifebodyworks.com.