Ever felt like a boiling pot, the steam pressure building up, threatening to spill over?
That’s what stress felt like to me on most days.
For a while, I thought I could get better by avoiding stressful situations. Everyone talks about understanding your “triggers” and avoiding them.
But, it didn’t work. It seemed like everything was a trigger. The “experts” were wrong once again…
Well, it turns out they were only half wrong. They were all focused on external “triggers”, but I found the secret to getting rid of stress and anxiety by focusing on my biological triggers.
What Causes Stress Response
First, let’s talk about what causes your body’s stress response.
Stress isn’t just a mental overload. It’s a complex response to external pressures – a combination of chemicals and receptors that release in our brains to signal potential threats.
Your brain is wired to handle stress in two main ways:
- The Hypothalamus, which sends out alarm signals to the body.
- The Prefrontal Cortex, which helps put brakes on the stress response once the threat has passed.
If your Prefrontal Cortex doesn’t intervene effectively, you’re left feeling consistently overwhelmed, even by minor triggers.
Imagine a car with a gas pedal but faulty brakes. That’s the constant stress experience for many.
But why does this imbalance happen? This is where genetics come into play.
My Genetic Discovery
When I started looking at my DNA, 2 specific genes stood out to me.
The NR3C1 gene was the first game-changing discovery.
This gene is a pivotal player in our stress response. It influences the cortisol receptors in our brain and cortisol is the primary “stress hormone.”
Carrying a specific variant in this gene, as I do, can make one’s cortisol receptors hypersensitive.
This means even the smallest stressor could start a huge reaction, making one feel like they’re facing a life-threatening situation when they’re merely handling a work deadline.
This gene is so impactful in your stress response that it can cause chronic fatigue – so much stress over something small will make you feel tired.
I discovered that L-carnitine helped counteract my negative variant.
You can discover your personalized recommendations by analyzing your DNA through SelfDecode and reading this article.
The GRM8 gene was the second game changer.
This is one of the genes associated with glutamate, which is the brain’s main messenger to help nerve cells communicate.
Too much glutamate can lead to increased stress.
The solution, based on my genes, was L-theanine. It took me a while to figure it out. But here it is on SelfDecode, confirming my research!
Following my health strategy
I’ve been writing this series to give you an inside look at how I tackled my mental health problems by using my genetics.
My journey to solving stress really mirrors my road to getting rid of anxiety and, as you’ll see in my next article, it also mirrors how I tackled my low mood.
This is because the foundation of my strategy stays the same – whether you’re solving mental health problems, inflammation issues, gut problems, or any other health topic:
Genetics is the key to getting to the root cause of any issue.
By analyzing your DNA, you can get personalized diet, lifestyle, and supplement recommendations that will help you reach your health goals.
>> IMPROVE YOUR STRESS RESPONSE
