267 — The Surprising Truth About Stress and Why Trying to Relax Is Making You Feel Worse with Dr. Rebecca Heiss

Do you feel like you’re constantly battling stress or that you’re stressed out all the time? Do attempts to relax backfire and cause you to feel even worse? If so, today’s episode is for you.
 
My guest today is Dr. Rebecca Heiss, a stress physiologist who says we can change the way stress affects us. In fact, she says we can turn our biological responses to stress into an advantage once we know how.
 
Some of the things we discuss are:
 

• Why you should stop trying to get rid of your stress
• Why believing stress is bad for you might actually kill you
• Why animals don’t get stressed out
• How to trick your brain into making stress an advantage
• Why avoiding stressful situations often causes more anxiety than facing them
• The role of oxytocin as a “courage hormone” and the importance of connection
• How to use a “catastrophe diary” to manage negative thinking
• Why service to others is the only thing that truly mitigates stress
• Practical ways to reframe your routine instead of just adding stress-reduction tasks
• Why curiosity and fear cannot coexist

Key Takeaways:

• Stress as a Competitive Advantage: Stress doesn’t need to be eliminated. When it’s channeled effectively, it can improve performance.

• Perception of Stress Affects Health Outcomes: How we perceive stress can significantly influence our physical health. Believing stress can be beneficial actually lowers mortality rates.

• Small Steps Toward Problem-Solving: Tackle stress by addressing problems incrementally rather than avoiding them, reframing stress as an opportunity for growth.

• Importance of Service to Others: Helping other people is key to reducing stress. 

• Curiosity and Connection in Stress Reduction: Embrace curiosity and seek support when you’re under stress.