Links Between Stress And Overeating

We have all heard the term comfort food before, as in “I need to eat a certain dish because I’ve had a stressful day.” Well that happens to be an honest reality and for many, indulging in heavy meals to cope with difficult feelings has led to weight gain and an unhealthy lifestyle. This actually is a much more common phenomenon than most people realize. So much so, that Harvard University recently addressed it on their wellness site.

The Harvard article was actually written by people in their medical department and pointed out some very real scientific links between stress and overeating. For starters, people who deal with consistent stressors can have a physical reaction with their adrenal glands. During certain moments, these glands can release a hormone called cortisol, which has been proven to increase a person’s appetite. And if those moments continue, there could be constant cravings at play.

“Once a specific stressful episode is over, cortisol levels do tend to fall,” the article states. “But if the stress doesn’t go away — or if a person’s stress response gets stuck in the ‘on’ position — the cortisol levels may stay elevated.”

Beyond that, the cortisol hormones may actually drive people towards unhealthier food choices. Studies cited by Harvard show that animals who have exhibited symptoms of distress tend to increase their intake of food high in fat or sugar (sometimes both). Once ingested, these “junk foods” have been shown to have a feedback that dampens stress related emotions. As the article emphasizes, these scientific findings actually do add merit to the comfort food theory.

Beyond indulging in ice cream and fast food, stressors do have other links to weight gain. People who are dealing with external pressures tend to exercise less and drink more alcohol, both of which can contribute to increased pounds and an unhealthy lifestyle.

To help curb the habits, the Harvard writers did offer a few tips for people looking to food for support. If there are overwhelming stress factors in your life, the article recommends meditation as a healthier alternative to eating. Jogging and cardio work has been shown to level off cortisol levels as well. Social support is another key avenue for people dealing with heavy stress. Leaning on friends and family can certainly steer a person away from lonely nights of junk food.

Of course if the problem persists and you are seeing noticeable changes in your weight and overall health, our team is more than happy to step in and offer support.

The Roots Of Road Rage

Anger issues are something many of us have to deal with (and can seek out support for). But why do they rear their ugly heads so frequently when we are behind the wheel? Psychology Today writer Steve Albrecht wrote an insightful piece that delved into that topic and the roots of urban road rage.

For those of us in Los Angeles, tempers can flare at a rapid pace. Car travel is a major part of the SoCal experience and with crowded freeways and distracted drivers continually interrupting our commutes, it’s understandable that frustrations can occur. But what is it that can turn “calm people” into rage-aholics?

Albrecht traces it to a need for control. Believe it or not, we can become quite possessive of our driving space; be it a freeway lane or a block within our neighborhood. If another driver interrupts that flow, it can feel like a violation.

Those who suffer from deeper anger issues, however, can experience severe triggers by violations such as these. If you are battling buried rage emotions, a rude gesture on the road can kick off a vicious spiral. And that’s when things really get dangerous.

These situations are the types that lead to violence, arrests and even death. We have all seen the news stories about an angry driver chasing down a “violator,” then smashing their car, beating them up, or even pulling a weapon. Police are often called to these incidents as well, with serious felony charges enacted on road rage aggressors.

Albrecht goes on to share relaxation exercises that people can practice in their car when a potential trigger occurs. His advice includes stress breathing (slowly counting to four, then doing deep exhales), playing relaxing music from your radio and simply continuing to focus on your own car and your own commute.

The bottom line is, these incidents are not personal. The other motorists do not know who you are, nor do they have any vendetta against you. Truth be told, they are simply bad drivers who, more than likely, will pay the price for their inconsiderations later down the road (via a ticket or potential accident). The key is to be grateful that you escaped a close call without any major injury.

“Perspective is the important part of road rage prevention,” Albrecht concluded. “You are you. The other driver is the other driver. Only you can let someone ruin your day or push your hot buttons. Focus on being ‘relentlessly positive,’  and realize you can’t control, coerce, or fix other people. You can only manage you. Practice kindness, starting with you first.”

Stress In A World Of Startups

Entrepreneurship is something that has obviously been praised over the past decade. With the Silicon Valley boom and so many new opportunities within the ever-expanding internet, why not take a risk and try to launch an innovative business idea? Well for every Google and Facebook, there are thousands of other companies barely scraping by and creating enormous amounts of stress for their owners. Entrepreneur.com rightly called out this stat in a recent article, highlighting the increasing amount of anxiety factors small business owners have to deal with.

To start, it’s important to outline the universal issues that people in these situations consistently face. Things like rising debt, difficulty keeping employees, operational concerns and an initial lack of profits. These are things ALL new businesses struggle with; but for people who are susceptible to stress and anxiety, they can be especially devastating.

Our advice is to most certainly seek out emotional support whenever it’s needed. There is absolutely no shame in acknowledging the emotional turmoil running a small business can cause. But beyond that, Entrepreneur did nicely lay out daily reminders that can hopefully keep the stress levels down.

1. Remember What’s Going Right

Though there will always be times when it feels like everything is working against you, it’s important to keep a “glass half full” mentality. On a regular basis, try writing down lists of the accomplishments that the company has had thus far. They could be very minimal at first (adding a new email to the database, perhaps), but these victories can help be a positive reminder of why you’re following your passion.

2. Rank Your Goals

Feeling overwhelmed is another major stressor for startup owners. Sometimes when there is so much on your plate, you can feel paralyzed and, ultimately, nothing will get done. The article emphasizes the importance of writing every major deadline down and then ranking them accordingly. Think of it as a priority checklist outlined in front of you. It will all begin to appear much more achievable as you begin crossing specific items out.

3. Take Breaks And Don’t Neglect Your Health

Startups can require endless hours of work (we all know this). But there are always tasks that can be postponed to another day. Try to make self-care a top priority, even if it’s for brief moments throughout the day. Take an afternoon walk. Slow down for a 10-minute coffee break. Even watch a few funny YouTube videos. These don’t have to be all-day things, but they can certainly help keep the stressors down.

And above all (as mentioned above), do not be afraid to reach out for help whenever it is needed.