Finding calm

When we're feeling stressed, our body's "fight or flight" response kicks in, which can cause a bunch of physical symptoms like increased heart rate and breathing, and tense muscles. By using calming strategies like deep breathing or mindfulness, we can activate our body's relaxation response, which can counteract those physical symptoms and help us feel more relaxed. Studies have shown that regularly practicing relaxation techniques can even lead to long-term changes in the brain, improving our ability to handle stress and manage our emotions. So it's not just a matter of feeling better in the moment - having some reliable calming strategies can have long-term benefits for our mental and physical health too.