#9 - The Upside Of Stress

There's no typo in that title, friends - stress really does have an upside! Today we're diving into our Book Club selection The Upside Of Stress by Kelly McGonigal, and we share how you can use stress to your advantage to grow stronger.

Here's what we talked about...

• I asked Bernie about his experience of stress. He says he's sometimes stressed by everyday responsibilities like work, family and finances, and this can lead to not-so-kind habits.
• I said that before reading the book I believed all stress was bad. It had also been a big trigger for self-sabotaging behaviors. Reading the book gave me life-changing insights and now I'm reframing stress both in my own life and for my clients.
• McGonigal states that stress is energy and it's a sign that something that matters to you is at stake.
• McGonigal writes that people who have a 'I can't handle itî response to stress don't secrete as much DHEA (growth hormone) compared to those who believe they can cope.
• Most people bounce back after stress and trauma. A small percentage experience post-traumatic growth. Not that the trauma was good at all - but that in some way your life has more meaning than before. She shares a powerful story in the book.
• A small percentage of people have the opposite experience, in which they don't bounce back and suffer from variations of anxiety, depression and PTSD.
• We talked about how to find the upside of stress in the learned habit of emotional eating. When a stressful event happens we don't feel in control, so out of habit we look for an escape to avoid feeling discomfort.
• How can we reframe stress? The first step is to PAUSE. Describe exactly what's happening and what you're telling yourself. This raises your awareness.
• What are the benefits from this behavior? If you're feeling threatened and/or unable to cope you instinctively do what is 'life saving’ in that minute. The automatic pattern of emotional eating feels helpful in the moment.
• When the emotional intensity has reduced and you can think more clearly, that is when you think and realise that is not what you really wanted. That is often when the guilt and shame roll in, and your motivation to be kind to yourself is diminished.
• Changing this starts with awareness and learning the triggers that set off this automatic behavior. Then plan how to do it differently the next time.
• My Body Kindness tips for embracing the Upside of Stress:
  1. Build your support circle - at least one person you can be real with!
  2. Affirm your strength - find examples of resilience in your life to prove that you can do hard things
  3. Find meaning in your crappy situation - you don't have to fake it! But there is a meaning that can help you grow.
• We introduced the next Body Kindness challenge: Improve Your Health In 8 Hours. The secret is... sleep! Use the hashtag #sleep8 to join in!
• Our next book club selection is Arianna Huffington's Sleep Revolution. Grab your copy & tune in for our discussion soon.

Links mentioned:

• How to make friends with stress - http://bit.ly/21o0ePd
• Watch Kelly's TED Talk - http://bit.ly/21o0de7
• Kelly's online courses - http://bit.ly/21o0rlC
• The Sensishake study - http://wbur.fm/21o1W3d
• The "tend and befriend" stress response http://bit.ly/21o1nX0
• Monica from Run Eat Repeat: Stress Eating Is Not Intuitive Eating http://bit.ly/21o0DBk 

---

You can subscribe to Body Kindness on iTunes and Stitcher. Enjoy the show? Please rate it on iTunes! - http://getpodcast.reviews/id/1073275062

Are you ready for Body Kindness? Get started today with my free e-course and on-demand digital training. Learn more - http://bit.ly/2k23nbT

The New York Times Book Review calls Body Kindness “simple and true”. Publisher’s Weekly says it’s “a rousing guide to better health.” http://bit.ly/2k228t9

Watch my videos about why we need Body Kindness on YouTube. https://youtu.be/W7rATQpv5y8?list=PLQPvfnaYpPCUT9MOwHByVwN1f-bL2rn1V

Did you enjoy the podcast? Please subscribe and rate it. Have a show idea or guest recommendation (even yourself!) E-mail podcast@bodykindnessbook.com to get in touch.

Nothing in this podcast is meant to provide medical diagnosis, treatment, cure, or prevent any disease or condition. Individuals should consult a qualified healthcare provider for medical advice and answers to personal health questions.