How To Reduce Stress When Hyperstimulated

Video Transcript

How do I reduce stress when my body is so hyperstimulated?

For many of us, gearing the body down when it’s hyperstimulated can seem like a futile endeavour, much like trying to sleep after drinking ten cups of highly caffeinated coffee.

That’s because hyperstimulation can:

• Make it feel like you always need to be on the go.
• Make slowing down and relaxing seem impossible.
• Disrupt sleep, which can increase cortisol and stimulation, making hyperstimulation feel even worse.

Consequently, hyperstimulation can interfere with reducing stress.

However, if you are aware of these factors, you can counteract them by deliberately slowing down despite the strong urges to go, go, go.

Here are a few ways you can do that.

1. Reduce and eliminate unnecessary stressors.

The first step in reducing stress despite being hyperstimulated is determining your major stressors. Then, take action to reduce and eliminate as many of them as possible.

While it might initially seem impossible to reduce and eliminate some major stressors, you can by being ruthless so that your recovery can benefit. After you’ve recovered, you can resume the stressors you feel are important.

2. Taking regular relaxation breaks.

The next step is to take relaxation breaks every day, even if for only a few minutes at a time and even if you feel you don’t need them.

Remember, hyperstimulation can make it feel like you always have to be on the go. Being aware of that urge can help you override it so you can begin to gear your body down.

Regular relaxation breaks each day can be an important part of your overall stress reduction and maintenance strategy.

3. Regular deep relaxation.

Regular deep relaxation is a silver-bullet remedy for hyperstimulation. That’s because deep relaxation activates the parasympathetic nervous system, which calms and soothes the body.

The parasympathetic nervous system works in opposition to the sympathetic nervous system, which is responsible for excitation and stimulation.

Consequently, regular deep relaxation is a potent antidote to hyperstimulation.

Yes, it can be difficult to get started with regular deep relaxation when the body is overly stimulated. But if you persevere, it gets easier over time.

Even if you try to deeply relax for only a few minutes at a time, that still benefits recovery. And as you persevere, your deep relaxation time will increase until deep relaxation becomes a pleasurable and desirable experience.

The more you work at it, the easier deep relaxation becomes and the longer it extends.

4. Regular light to moderate exercise.

Regular light to moderate exercise brings many benefits, including burning off excess stress and helping your body relax. By making regular light to moderate exercise an important part of your daily routine, you can reduce and eliminate hyperstimulation in time. As such, your body and mental health will thank you.

We don’t recommend rigorous exercise because it stresses and stimulates the body. However, light to moderate exercise seems to be the right amount if you want to reduce stress and hyperstimulation.

5. Make rest another important part of your daily routine.

Hyperstimulation occurs when we don’t offset the buildup of stress. Taking time each day to deliberately slow down, de-stress, and rest can reduce hyperstimulation and prevent the buildup of stress after you’ve recovered.

As your body begins to slow down and indulge in rest, it gets easier and easier to relax and gear down. Again, you’ll likely have to initially work at making rest an important part of your day. But it, too, gets easier and easier as your body recovers.

There are many natural ways to reduce stress and relax. You can read our article “60 Ways To Reduce Stress And Anxiety” for more information. The link is in the description.

Recovery Support members can read the many stress reduction strategies we explain in Chapter 14.

6. Avoid stimulants.

Stimulants bring about their stimulating effect by causing the body to release stress hormones. Since hyperstimulation is caused by the overstimulation of stress hormones, ingesting stimulants will work against hyperstimulation recovery.

Avoiding stimulants can assist in reducing stress.

While reducing stress and stimulation can be initially challenging when the body has become hyperstimulated, you can succeed with practice and perseverance. Teaching the body to be more relaxed takes time, and sometimes a lot of time. But it’s an essential part of recovery and lasting success.

Thankfully, the body does catch on eventually. However, it often needs a lot of coaxing. So, if you find it difficult to relax initially, that’s common.

However, with perseverance, you can teach the body to be more relaxed. Living a more relaxed lifestyle is well worth achieving.