We are currently facing a significant crisis in the form of the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to a very unique type of emotional upheaval. With experiences unlike any in living memory, understanding how to manage our emotions during this time can be incredibly challenging. The health and economic pressures, coupled with social distancing, underscore the urgent need to prioritize our emotional well-being.
While most consider emotional health to be only a psychological issue, we believe emotional health is also a physiological issue. Physiology refers to how your organs and body systems function. Let’s explore how stress affects your body and then how your body affects your emotions.
How a Crisis and Stress Affects Your Body
Stress is interpreted by the brain in the hypothalamus. Your hypothalamus communicates via chemical messengers with your pituitary gland. The hypothalamus and the pituitary talk about the stress, then send a message to the adrenals, whose job is to physiologically deal with the stress. The body’s primary reaction to stress is pumping out adrenaline (the “fight or flight” hormone), and the secondary reaction is increased cortisol (the stress hormone) and DHEA (the “fountain of youth” hormone).
If these hormones are out of balance (namely the cortisol-to-DHEA ratio), you will maladapt to stress. Here are some symptoms that might result from an inability to adapt to stress:
- Sleep problems
- Depression and/or anxiety
- ADD/ADHD
- Digestive problems like indigestion, gas and bloating
- Hiatal hernia
- Food sensitivities
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Low energy
- Carbohydrate cravings
- Insulin resistance (precursor to type 2 diabetes)
- Weight gain
- Increased infections
- Allergic reactions
- Yeast overgrowth
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Body aches and pains
- Any condition that ends in “itis,” such as arthritis, bursitis, tendonitis, gastritis, sinusitis, bronchitis, dermatitis, etc.
Stress is impossible to avoid, especially right now, so it’s not about trying to avoid stress. What you want to support is your body’s ability to adapt to stress in a healthy way. One of the best ways to physiologically handle stress better is to add supplemental adrenal support.
Adaptogenic herbs work like a thermostat to sense imbalances and naturally correct them. They enable the body’s cells to access more energy and help the body utilize oxygen more efficiently. They’re called adaptogens because of their unique ability to “adapt” their function according to your body’s specific needs.
How Your Physiology Affects Your Emotions
While stress has a direct effect on your physical body, your physical body can also affect your emotions. For example, if your blood sugar is low, you may become “hangry” (hungry + angry). The anger and irritability you experience in this situation is not a problem with your psychology, it is an imbalance in your physiology. Low blood sugar also affects your brain directly. Your brain needs glucose (blood sugar) in order to function. If it doesn’t receive enough glucose, you will experience brain fog. This can be misinterpreted as a psychological disorder: depression. Supporting your emotional health in this situation means balancing your blood sugar with a good diet (adequate protein and fiber, minimal sugar) and supplements.
It is important to address emotional health from both a psychological and a physiological perspective. In addition to low blood sugar, imbalances in blood pressure, thyroid hormones, steroid hormones (estrogen, testosterone, etc.), liver function, immunity and other body systems can all affect your emotional health. This is why it is so important to regularly work with a holistic healthcare practitioner, especially during our current crisis. We can help you identify physiological triggers and address the root cause of emotional problems.
Another Great Resource for Emotional Health
Navigating this crisis can be challenging, and we want you to know we are here to offer support in any way possible. Despite the fear surrounding current events, we believe this shared experience holds opportunities for learning and positive transformation. Let’s use technology to maintain our connections and support each other – contact us!