Learning to Interrupt the Stress Response
The link between body and mind
It’s fairly easy to make the connection between how we are using our bodies and the physical discomfort we sometimes feel. A twinge or an ache reminds us that we may have been sitting with poor posture or carrying a weight awkwardly. But we rarely make the connection between how we are using our minds and the way that we are feeling. This makes it difficult to interrupt the stress response
Instead, it seems as though anxiety, feelings of agitation, or overwhelm appear out of nowhere. The habitual ways that we use our minds are so familiar that we don’t notice them. We endlessly mull over things that have happened, we judge ourselves and others, or we drive ourselves ever onwards with a push to do more. All of these ways of thinking tend to activate our sympathetic system—the stress response (also known as ‘fight or flight’)—leaving us feeling stressed, anxious, and overwhelmed
Seeking calm
Understandably, we don’t like feeling this way, so we seek out ways to calm our system. In recent years, interest in practices such as yoga, meditation, breath work, sound baths, and somatic work has increased. These can be deeply restorative as they activate our parasympathetic system (also known as our ‘rest and digest’ system)
The trouble is, we often view these experiences as separate from our ‘normal’, busy life. We may feel calm and refreshed after an hour of focusing on our breath, but it isn’t long before we dive back into our habitual ways of rushing, planning, and worrying
A powerful shift in perspective
There is another way we can bring more ease into our lives. To understand this, it is helpful to remember that the mind is not just capable of creating thoughts; it is also capable of being aware of those thoughts. This can be very empowering
Usually we are so caught up in our thoughts that we seem to be our thoughts. We are pulled this way and that by mental chatter that tells us how things are and what we should be doing. But, with a little practice, it is possible to mentally step back and see our thoughts as though from a distance. This simple shift is powerful because it enables us to see things more clearly
Becoming more objective
Instead of just taking our thoughts for granted, we can be a bit more objective about them. When we find ourselves caught in a cycle of judging, blaming, or fretting, we can ask: How is this making me feel?
When we make the link between what the mind is doing and the way that we are feeling, this awakens our curiosity. We might start to see that much of our thinking is simply a habit. We see that thinking the same thoughts again and again doesn’t change anything – it just exhausts us. Knowing this gives us options. We don’t have to fight with our thoughts but we can choose to stop engaging with them and take our attention elsewhere
Interrupting the stress response
In this way, we can interrupt those habits that keep our nervous system in a state of high alert and stress. Instead, we can invite more ease and wellbeing into our everyday lives
Want to Learn More?
As a mindfulness and Alexander Technique teacher in the Saltash / Plymouth area, I help people reduce stress, find balance, improve posture, and feel better in mind and body
Get in touch to find out more or explore our courses. Learn how small changes can make a big difference to your ease, balance, and wellbeing
**About Me**
I’m Sarah-Linda, a certified teacher of both the Alexander Technique and mindfulness based near Plymouth, UK. Through Living and Loving Mindfully, I support individuals in reconnecting with their bodies, easing tension, and moving through life with greater presence and flow
My approach is gentle and grounded in awareness — helping you rediscover your natural balance, without forcing or fixing
It’s not about getting it right, but about learning how to be more present with where you are
