Mental/Emotional Stress

Mental and emotional stress are a normal part of life. However, if the stress that underlies these emotions interferes with your ability to do the things you want or need to do, this stress becomes unhealthy. Mental and emotional responses to stimuli are referred to as limbic responses. The limbic system of the brain, sometimes called the emotional nervous system, moderates your moods, maintains homeostasis, and helps form memories. Chronic stress can lead to overactivation of the limbic system, including the hypothalamus and amygdala, which can result in negative physical and mental health outcomes. These can include anxiety, depression, cardiovascular disease, and digestive disorders, among other conditions. While you can’t always control what happens to you, you can control how you react to it. Channeling your emotions in a consciously positive way helps you to dramatically decrease the negative impact of stressful events. Learning how to do this is part of personal growth—mental and emotional, as well as spiritual. Integrating relaxation exercises such as meditation and deep breathing into your daily routine can make a dramatic improvement in your entire life, giving you the resolve to positively channel your emotions.