Dr. Wendi Johnson - Wednesday, June 2, 2021

Have you ever been stressed? What stresses you out? Did you notice that most of these reasons are instances when we are not in control or there is uncertainty? How does stress make you feel? Does your heart feel faster? Do you breathe faster? Does your stomach feel queasy? Your sympathetic nervous system makes your body ready for action, the so-called fight or flight response.

A great way to take back control of your body is to walk or exercise. By getting your muscles of locomotion moving (arms and legs) you stop the fight or flight messages. If you are walking outside and with friends, you have the additional benefits of exposure to nature and socializing which also help you feel less stress.

You may not be able to walk/exercise every time or place that you get stressed, but walking won’t make you feel guilty like sitting down with a bowl of ice cream will.

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