Managing Stress for a Healthier You
- Dr. Joshua Beaudry
- Jan 27
- 3 min read
Think about most days in your life.
How stressed do you feel—physically and emotionally?
Now rate it from 0 to 10.
That number matters, because stress is not just “in your head.” Stress is a real neurological, hormonal, and inflammatory response that affects every system in the body.
When you understand stress this way, you realize something powerful: you can measure it, you can train it, and you can change it.
Stress Isn’t Just a Feeling—It’s a Body State
Stress changes the body in measurable ways by activating the sympathetic nervous system (fight-or-flight).
And your body will show you when you’re in that stress state.
Here are objective signs your stress response is turned on:
Cold hands = chronic stress pattern
Dry hands = chronic stress pattern
Very sweaty hands = acute stress response
High respiration rate = chronic stress response
Tight muscles = chronic stress response
Brainwaves off balance = chronic stress response
Heart rate variability (HRV) low or irregular = chronic stress response
These are not “personality traits.” They are measurable outputs of your nervous system.
The HPA Axis: Your Stress Command Center
Stress affects what’s called the HPA axis:
Hypothalamus → Pituitary → Adrenal
This axis determines how your body responds to stress both short-term and long-term.
When the HPA axis is activated, stress hormones rise. This affects sleep, mood, blood sugar, inflammation, and even digestion.
Stress and Blood Sugar: The Missing Link to Sleep Issues
One of the most overlooked stress triggers is unstable blood sugar.
Here’s what happens:
You fall asleep
Blood sugar drops
Your brain senses danger (“we need fuel to survive”)
The adrenal glands release epinephrine (adrenaline)
Blood sugar spikes so you don’t crash
But now… you’re awake
This is why many people wake up 3 to 5 hours after falling asleep, and struggle to go back to sleep.
Chronically, this stress response becomes driven through cortisol, another hormone used to raise blood sugar.
Fun fact: cortisol’s original name was glucocorticoid—because it’s deeply tied to glucose regulation.
What Stress Does to the Whole Body
Living in a chronic stress response impacts nearly everything:
Poor sleep
Digestive problems
Blood sugar instability
Immune system dysfunction
Mood shifts
Focus problems
Memory decline
Stress doesn’t just make life harder. It rewires the nervous system into survival mode.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Stress
Stress shows up in physical, emotional, and behavioral patterns:
Physical
Tight neck and shoulders
Tight jaw
Short, shallow breathing
Digestive issues
Emotional
Anxiety
Irritability
Brain fog
Feeling overwhelmed
Behavioral
Cravings
Addictive tendencies
Procrastination
Poor sleep routine
“Wired but tired” energy
These are signs the nervous system is overloaded.
Simple Ways to Regulate Stress (That Actually Work)
The goal isn’t to “eliminate stress.” The goal is to improve how your body processes it and returns to safety.
1. Belly Breathing (Diaphragmatic Breathing)
This is one of the fastest ways to downshift the nervous system.
Try this:
Put one hand on your chest
Put one hand on your stomach
Breathe slowly
The stomach hand should rise. The chest hand should stay mostly still.
If the chest is moving, you are unintentionally increasing the stress response.
2. Shoulder Rolls
Shoulder tension is one of the most consistent “stress storage” patterns.
Do repeated shoulder rolls:
Pull shoulders up
Pull shoulders back
Relax down
This signals safety and reduces sympathetic drive.
The Takeaway
Stress is real. It’s measurable. And it affects everything—from sleep and digestion to mood and memory.
But the good news is this: your nervous system is trainable.
When you learn how to regulate your stress response, you don’t just feel better—you become healthier at the deepest level.
Life Springs Family Chiropractic – Denver, CO
Call/Text: (303) 770-0605
Website: lifespringsfamilychiropractic.com
