Page 12 - Molly 30.05.2022

What can we do about our automatic stress responses?

Just knowing this is how our brain works can help.

It means that we can practise noticing the feeling of stress being released

into our body – the affect we spoke about earlier. Everyone feels it

differently so it is about becoming really body aware.

As soon as we experience the unpleasant feeling, we can do different things

to help:

1. Calm your brain with the evidence: say out loud ‘Ah! It is my brain

thinking this is a real danger but it is just maths! It is that pesky cortisol

stress chemical being released but I am actually quite safe!”

2. Tell someone you trust or give them a hug – feeling supported and

loved releases oxytocin which blocks the stress chemical cortisol.

3. Take some breaths

4. Walk, jump or stretch – physical exercise releases some of those Feel

Good Chemicals and blocks the stress chemical cortisol.