Lesson 2: Understanding Stress in the Body (from our course Feel Better, Care Better).
Lesson 2: Understanding Stress in the Body
Feel Better, Care Better: Holistic Lifestyle Education for Direct Support Professionals
Introduction
As a caregiver, you show up daily for others, often under pressure and with little recovery time. That pressure can accumulate and manifest as stress in the body—a silent burden that, left unchecked, can lead to burnout or even illness. In this lesson, we’ll explore what stress is, how it affects your physical and emotional health, and what awareness can do to change the game for you.
What Is Stress?
Stress is your body’s natural response to a perceived threat. It triggers the “fight, flight, or freeze” survival mechanism, designed to protect you in emergencies.
However, in modern caregiving environments, the stressors are constant, and your body doesn’t get the signal to return to a calm, balanced state. Over time, stress becomes chronic, and the same protective mechanism begins to wear you down.
How Stress Shows Up in the Body
You might notice stress through:
- Tight shoulders or jaw
- Headaches or fatigue
- Stomachaches or digestive issues
- Rapid heartbeat or shallow breathing
- Trouble sleeping
- Irritability or feeling emotionally drained
Even if you feel emotionally “fine,” your body might still be holding tension and reacting under the surface.
Why It Matters for Direct Support Professionals
Direct Support Professionals (DSPs) often experience:
- Emotional labor—being “on” for someone else all the time
- Physical strain—from lifting, moving, or long shifts
- Unpredictable environments—with behavioral or medical challenges
- Secondary trauma—absorbing stress from those you care for
This cumulative stress can lead to burnout, reduced quality of care, and serious health problems if not addressed.
Where Do You Hold Stress?
Stress often settles in certain parts of the body:
- Neck and shoulders: from carrying emotional weight
- Stomach: from anxiety and digestive disruption
- Back: from physical strain or unsupported emotions
- Chest: from shallow breathing or tightness
- Jaw or head: from unspoken frustration or mental overload
Taking a moment to scan your body can reveal tension you weren’t even aware of.
Stress Awareness Is a Skill
Before you can release stress, you must recognize it. This starts with small habits like:
- Pausing during your shift to breathe and check in
- Noticing your posture, breath, and tension patterns
- Identifying emotional triggers or moments of overwhelm
- Journaling or reflecting on what your body is telling you
Stress is not your fault. It’s a message from your nervous system that something needs attention.
Key Takeaway
“Stress is not the enemy. Ignoring it is.”
You don’t have to eliminate all stress. You just need to develop awareness and a few tools to help your body reset.
Journaling Prompt
Take 5–10 minutes to answer the following:
- Where do you feel stress in your body today?
- What caregiving task tends to raise your stress the most?
- Do you tend to fight (get angry), flee (avoid), or freeze (shut down)?
- What does your body need in this moment?
Looking Ahead
Next, we’ll explore Simple Reset Tools—techniques you can use throughout your day to release tension, calm your mind, and protect your energy.