You Can’t Eliminate Stress, But You Can Learn to Work With It
Feeling Stressed? You’re Not Alone.
If you’re feeling stressed, you’re not broken—you’re human. But in a world that often glorifies constant busyness, many of us live with a “low-grade fever” of stress, unsure how to address it, let alone manage it.
At Mental Health Made Simple, we believe stress doesn’t have to control you. You can learn to regulate your stress, understand its causes, and take small, realistic steps to manage it without overwhelm.
Stress Isn’t the Enemy
“If you eliminate stress, you’re no longer living.” – Jonathan
Stress gets a bad rap, but it isn’t always the villain. Stress can motivate you to take action, protect your family, or move toward your goals. It’s a normal, even healthy, response to life’s demands.
But when stress becomes constant, unmanaged, or ignored, it can drain your energy, disrupt your sleep, and leave you feeling reactive rather than present in your daily life.
As Dr. Mark Mayfield shares, stress activates your body’s natural cortisol and adrenaline responses—like your body preparing to run from a bear. But in everyday life, that bear might be unread emails, financial worries, or the constant ping of notifications.
Regulate, Don’t React
“Think of it like adjusting the water temperature in your shower.” – Jonathan
“We need to know ourselves well enough to regulate, not just react.” – Dr. Mark
We can’t stop stress from showing up, but we can learn to adjust how we respond to it. This is what we mean by regulating stress.
When you feel your stress rising:
Pause and notice. What’s happening in your body?
Name it. What’s causing this stress?
Adjust. What’s one small thing you can do to lower the heat without shutting the water off completely?
What Does Regulation Look Like?
Dr. Mark reminds us that your body’s stress response is normal: cortisol and adrenaline kick in to help you respond to challenges. But you can choose how you respond to that surge:
Go for a short walk to let your body reset.
Step away from your phone for five minutes.
Take a few deep breaths before responding to an email.
Establish a consistent bedtime routine to support your body’s natural rhythms.
None of this is about perfection. It’s about building awareness and choosing small, sustainable actions that help you manage stress without letting it control your life.
Questions to Ask Yourself About Stress
Want to start getting curious about your stress? Here’s where to begin:
How’s your sleep lately?
How much time are you spending doom scrolling?
Are you moving your body regularly, even for a few minutes?
What’s one small thing you can adjust this week?
Small Changes Move the Needle
“You can’t go around it, you can’t go over it, you can’t go under it. You have to go through it.” – Jonathan
You won’t eliminate stress overnight. But you can start making small choices that move the needle in your favor:
Put your phone down 10 minutes earlier tonight.
Take a quick walk during your lunch break.
Say no to one small thing that’s draining your energy.
Swap your nightly doom scroll for reading a book for five minutes.
Small, consistent actions help you reclaim control and build resilience without trying to overhaul your entire life.
The Bottom Line: Stress Will Be There—Learn to Work With It
Awareness is the first step toward change. Stress isn’t something you can simply eliminate, but you can learn to work with it.
Start by getting curious. Notice what’s triggering your stress. Name it honestly. Then choose one small, realistic thing you can do today to support yourself.
Maybe it’s putting your phone down 10 minutes earlier tonight. Maybe it’s stepping outside for a few deep breaths. Maybe it’s simply acknowledging, “Yeah, I’m feeling stressed,” and letting that honesty lighten the load just a little.
You don’t have to fix everything all at once. But you can take one step.
And that’s enough for today.