Understanding Stress: Causes, Biology, and How to Become Resilient | Being Well Podcast

On this episode of Being Well, Dr. Rick Hanson and I take a deep dive into defining stress, how it functions, how it impacts our lives and bodies, and what we can do to repair from its effects.
We discuss how to distinguish stress from effort, the influence of the modern world on how stressed we feel, the various biological mechanisms involved in stress, and the challenges presented by chronic exposure to it. Then we consider what we can do to positively respond to our stressors even in the midst of limitations and uncertainty.
Key Topics:
0:00 Introduction
1:50 What is stress exactly?
3:20 Distinguishing stress from effort
7:10 Circles of concern and what we can actually influence
9:30 Zebras and the different levels of allostatic load
15:00 How the Endocrine system and Nervous system respond to stress
21:50 The Amygdala response
23:00 What are the costs of stress?
33:54 Summary of everything so far
35:45 How do we positively adapt to stress?
41:00 The influence of basic lifestyle factors
42:40 Questions to ask yourself
45:00 Claiming agency while accepting limitations and uncertainty
50:50 What we can do to repair from the effects of our stress
57:30 Recap
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Who Am I: I'm Forrest, the co-author of Resilient (amzn.to/3iXLerD) and host of the Being Well Podcast (apple.co/38ufGG0). I'm making videos focused on simplifying psychology, mental health, and personal growth.
You can follow me here:
🎤 apple.co/38ufGG0
🌍 www.forresthanson.com
📸 / f.hanson

[@karentennant9544]

Your podcast is so helpful and informing in general but I especially love this one. Deep thanks to both of you.

[@MeganLeibovici]

Thank you for this. I have found myself stuggling with smoking and as obvious as it sounds, only recently made the connection with stress. I quit over 17 years ago. And started just over a year ago when my FIL died. Quit in the summer and then started again after Oct 7 (I live in Israel). And then quit again on dec 31st. Only for the last 5+ months to be so rough. In 2007 I went from 20+ to 0 overnight and never thought about it. Only when my FIL died and I smoked his remaining cigarettes with my husband, did I find myself in a constant struggle with cigarettes. Anyway, as soon as I tuned in to my body experience of craving a cigarette, I could feel how much I just want a break. For the stress of the conflict and the never-ending layers of complexity to come to an end. Of course a cigarette doesn't actually give me that relief. Neither does yoga, meditation, running, cooking, cleaning, studying, sex etc... nothing brings relief. But I think all those strategies are like a deep hug/comfort. Not removing the stressor, but at least strategies to keep a daily life under such threat.

[@Susan-ol4ys]

You guys are fabulous, and I enjoy and benefit from every episode - thank you 🙏

[@ForrestHanson]

Thank you!

[@paulahirsch7732]

This was my first podcast with you, I’m glad I found you! How to respond to stress and uncertainty without making ourself sick(er). Whew, right on topic for these times. Thanks, your work is appreciated!

[@sue8599]

I prefer to see the pink zone as a brown zone. Well that's the colour you get when red and green mix and it's the colour of mud or other noxious substances! Mud can also be different consistencies of stickiness too, so the analogies go on ... Love your work, thank you

[@oliviamabrey]

You two are my heroes! Thank you!

[@patriciaharvey226]

Understanding what is going on inside is a real blessing. Thank you!

[@lxMaDnEsSxl]

you guys have such a beautiful relationship, and so joyful and pleasant to listen to . thank you

[@axasch]

This is so good, it’s medicine to listen to.

[@karentessier31]

Thank you for the very valuable information on how to practice keeping switching every day stress to a more of a positive frame of mind.

[@mjparent222]

zebra teacher !!! so cool ! develop deep green ! is it green, it's super green !!! so good. thank you so much. i've been stress lately and couldn't get out of it, fatigue came up. now it is better but I find out that I must care more about my equilibrium. yes this podcast is full and complete. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[@njtolton1641]

I really appreciate you two! Great episode!

[@lindachaffer6713]

Thank you both for a really valuable and informative podcast.

[@antoniobellartbrufau5436]

❤ Using your tools in Spain Thank you

[@andrewbetancourtofficial]

Wait he’s your dad!!! Omg

[@ForrestHanson]

🤣