How You Respond to Stress Makes a Difference in How Fast You Recover From It

"I know that I am safe because I am the adult in charge of me right now."

These are words I say to myself when I'm deep into stress and not feeling safe in my body, or in the world. I know I'm safe because I am the adult in charge of me right now.

That feeling comes up - that stress response - when something from the past gets triggered in the present. It can also come up if you're in clear and present danger...but it's more common that we experience stress/survival response because of what our body remembers. We want our survival systems to work, we just don't want to be stuck in stress/survival response or for it to be making it harder to get through the day. 

We’ve all felt our stress/survival response kick in—tight chest, shallow breaths, tension, uncomfortable sensations, that sense of worry/anxiety/overwhelm, big emotions, or the ilk creeping in. Sometimes it creeps in hard and fast, other times it's like a low hum of discomfort in the background. Either way, it's uncomfortable. 

But what if you had a simple, effective way to recover faster and help your body regulate itself in moments like these? You can learn new ways to respond to and recover from stress, anxiety, and overwhelm faster and more effectively. The reality is that we all have automatic ways we respond to stress, emotions, and discomfort but they are often ways we coped and responded to stress in the past, and they aren't as helpful in the present. Learning new ways to respond and soothe makes your body your #1 self-care tool and it puts more power to influence how you feel and recover in your own hands.

Here’s how I handle it when my stress levels spike:

I pause to observe and acknowledge how I’m feeling (both physically and emotionally), and then take action to reset my nervous system. One super simple technique that works wonders? Gentle tapping near the collarbone while taking deep, intentional breaths. It may be simple, but powerful. Here’s why:

When I remind myself that I’m in control—when to engage, when to step back—it calms the "fight or flight" response. My breathing settles, my body relaxes, and I feel present again.

Why this works: Most of us still use stress-coping mechanisms we learned as kids, but upgrading our responses is key. A regulated nervous system doesn’t just help us feel calmer—it supports our body’s natural ability to heal and recover, it supports relaxation, and it enables us to get back our regularly scheduled program.

Want to try it? Here’s how:
→ Gently tap near your collarbone with one or both hands.
→ Take slow, deep breaths (even if it feels challenging at first).
→ Affirm to yourself: "I am in control. I choose how and when to engage."
→ Keep practicing until your tension starts to ease.

Your body already has the tools to recover—you just need to support it.

Want to learn these tools and more? Join me for an upcoming Nervous System Support Workshop by signing up at https://michelleclinard.com/events

Want to watch the video of my real life stress response? Visit my YouTube Channel: https://youtu.be/kGxSzZnJtbg

What’s your go-to method for calming stress? I’d love to hear how you navigate tough moments in the comments

#StressRelief #NervousSystemHealth #SelfCare #EmotionalWellness #PersonalGrowth