How Stress Gets in the Way of Your Recovery

Stress isn't just in your head. It shows up in your sleep, your muscles, and how you feel after a hard week. Here's how to break the loop.

You already know stress is bad for you. Everyone says it. But it is easy to miss how much it shows up in your body: in how you sleep, how tight your shoulders get, and how worn out you feel after a week that never let up.

What does stress do to your body?

When you're stressed, your body releases stress hormones like cortisol. In short bursts, that is normal and useful. It is part of your fight-or-flight response. When stress sticks around, you tend to feel it in everyday ways:

• Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep
• Tight muscles, especially in the neck, jaw, and shoulders
• Less energy for exercise, and less patience for recovery
• Aches that feel louder when you're already worn down

How do you break the stress-and-soreness loop?

It is a frustrating loop. You tweak your back, you worry about it, you sleep badly, and now you feel worse on both fronts. The way out is usually boring and effective: sleep, movement, time outside, people you like, and deliberate time to switch off.

That last one is where we come in. A BrainTap session uses guided audio and light to help you settle into a calm, quiet state. A vibroacoustic session lets you lie back on a mat and feel low, steady sound through your body. Both are relaxation sessions, not medical care, and the research on them is thin. They are simply a way to give yourself half an hour off.

If stress is affecting your mood, sleep, or daily life in a big way, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. For one group who lives in this loop constantly, see our post on real recovery for moms who never stop.

Who shouldn't try BrainTap?

Skip BrainTap's light visor if you have epilepsy or a history of seizures, are sensitive to flashing light, have a pacemaker or other implanted electronic device, or are pregnant. Ask us about the audio-only option or a vibroacoustic session instead. Call DWT Wellness at (973) 908-1524. Your first session is free.