Studies show that our society is experiencing the psychological impacts of a collective trauma like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Stress, burnout, chronic health and mental health diagnoses continue to rise. A recent study from the American Psychological Association, Stress in America 2023: A Nation Recovering from Collective Trauma examines the lasting psychological impacts of this combination of era-defining crises. The study reviewed pre- and post-pandemic mental and physical health as signs of collective trauma among all ages. While we know the Pandemic ended a little less than year ago, and the return to “normal” has been celebrated by many, the studies paint a different picture.

We know that sustained and prolonged stress leads to chronic health challenges and mental health challenges. In addition, because of the effect of the physiological response on our bodies, we need to learn new coping strategies. In the workplace, we’ve also got more pressure than ever to do things fast. With inflation (decrease in resources), automation, AI, and changing technology serving as the root cause of some of this. This is confirmed by, a recent study by Gallup, which reveals that 76% of employees experience burnout at least sometimes.

It’s the most important time to develop new skills to manage stress, balance, and emotion regulation both at work and at home.

In October 2022, U.S. Surgeon General, released the first-ever Surgeon General’s Framework for Workplace Mental Health and Well-Being. The results of APA’s 2023 Work in America Survey confirmed that psychological well-being is a very high priority for workers themselves.

• 92% of workers said it is very (57%) or somewhat (35%) important to them to work for an organization that values their emotional and psychological well-being.
• 92% said it is very (52%) or somewhat (40%) important to them to work for an organization that provides support for employee mental health.
• 95% said it is very (66%) or somewhat (29%) important to them to feel respected at work.
• 95% said it is very (61%) or somewhat (34%) important to them to work for an organization that respects the boundaries between work and non-work time.

The net net is that organizations need to pay attention to well-being of their employees.

How does stress show up in our bodies?

The central nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, and all the nerves within the body. The autonomic nervous system is the part of the overall central nervous system that regulates involuntary body functions. The sympathetic and parasympathetic both control the same parts of the body and same general functions of the body, but with opposing effects.

Sympathetic is the nervous system responsible for your “fight or flight” responses in times of emergencies. It controls the body’s responses to stress, injuries, or perceived threats. A stressful situation, whether something environmental like a deadline or psychological like a worry about a relationship or a job loss can trigger a cascade of stress hormones that produce psychological changes. This can make your heart pound or your muscles tense. This reaction is known as the fight or flight response survival mechanism. It’s how we have evolved as humans to allow us to react to threatening situations quicky.

Unfortunately, the body can also overreact to stressors that are not life-threatening, such as traffic jams, work pressure, and family difficulties. When we stay engaged in fight our flight, we lose executive functioning. Thus, we are not making good decisions, we react poorly, this influences our relationships and our health.

Because of what has been happening in the world and in our lives, the Pandemic, Global conflict, racial injustice, inflation, and climate-related disasters – many of us are experiencing symptoms of fight or flight throughout the day and are not even aware of it.

Parasympathetic is the nervous system responsible for your “rest and digest” responses in times of non-emergencies. It controls the body’s responses at rest and helps your body regulate its normal daily organ functions. The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for preparing the body’s reactions at rest and maintaining homeostasis. Homeostasis is when a body seeks to maintain a condition of equilibrium regardless of outside influences.

Believe it or not, you can actually trigger your parasympathetic nervous system.

So, what CAN you do?

Here are a few of our recommended proactive coping practices:

1. Breathe: Take time center yourself and get in the present moment. Breathing is one of the easiest and quickest ways to get your body back to homeostasis. If you are in a stressful meeting, no one is going to notice if you stop to take a few deep breaths. This is also a great mindfulness tool. What are others you could lean into?
2. Turn Challenges into Gifts: If you’re having a challenge in your life, how can you use this challenge as an opportunity to learn? Or can you look back to time when you had a difficulty – what did you learn? Often there are gifts to these challenging times. We don’t see them in the moment of adversity. When we can see these difficulties as experiences to learn, it eases our suffering. It also strengthens our resilience muscle.
3. Gratitude: When we are stressed, we often quickly shift to a negative perspective. Where can you reframe some of those narratives? What do you have to be grateful for today?
4. Self-care: It’s often when we are going through tough or stressful times, we through self-care right out the window. What is one thing you can do to put on your oxygen mask? Sometimes for my clients it’s as simple as self-discipline around start and stop times in their day or scheduled gym time.
5. Sense of Humor: One of my personal favorites is laughter. How can you have more fun? You can experience difficult times and joy at the same time. I learned this the year my dad passed away – grief and joy can happen at the same time.

By understanding the physiological mechanisms of stress and implementing proactive coping practices, we can start to navigate the challenges of our time with an increase in resilience and fortitude. Embracing mindfulness, gratitude, self-care, and humor offers pathways to not only cope with adversity but also find moments of joy amid adversity, ultimately fostering a healthier and more resilient society.

With an illustrious career that has spanned more than two decades, Melanie Vargas has masterfully cultivated her craft as a C-level Human Resources and Organizational Development luminary. Her journey is defined by an unwavering commitment to unlocking boundless possibilities and orchestrating profound transformations within leaders and teams, all underpinned by a steadfast dedication to delivering concrete, results-oriented solutions.

Her coaching philosophy revolves around fostering thought-provoking and creative partnerships with her clients.  Whether it’s navigating critical strategic decisions, cultivating executive presence, fostering team cohesion, or enhancing interpersonal effectiveness, she is steadfast in her commitment to guiding leaders towards unparalleled success. She aims to guide her clients to explore new perspectives, question assumptions, and gain deeper insights into their goals and aspirations. Melanie is a frequently requested speaker inside organizations on topics such as resilience, change, and transition.

If you are interested in our workshops or executive coaching, reach out info@radicalignition.com.