Dr. Wendy Suzuki

I would say I said that a lot to myself. And when I sat down to write my second book, Good Anxiety, I realized how much stress and anxiety that I was dealing with in my life. And also, I think the key was there were simple tools that one could use to address not all forms of your stress and anxiety, but a lot of those forms of stress and anxiety. And so the first step is awareness.

I would say I said that a lot to myself. And when I sat down to write my second book, Good Anxiety, I realized how much stress and anxiety that I was dealing with in my life. And also, I think the key was there were simple tools that one could use to address not all forms of your stress and anxiety, but a lot of those forms of stress and anxiety. And so the first step is awareness.

I think, well, I live in New York City. People like to wear a badge of stress. Oh, you know, every time you answer, how are you? Oh, so stressed out. So much to do. It's like a badge of honor. So I think that that has become part of our individualistic society. And that's not good. I mean, what you should be able to say at least a good chunk of the time is actually, I'm doing well. I feel good.

I think, well, I live in New York City. People like to wear a badge of stress. Oh, you know, every time you answer, how are you? Oh, so stressed out. So much to do. It's like a badge of honor. So I think that that has become part of our individualistic society. And that's not good. I mean, what you should be able to say at least a good chunk of the time is actually, I'm doing well. I feel good.

I feel energized. And you don't hear that response all too often. And that's not just in New York, but I think all over the country and all over the world.

I feel energized. And you don't hear that response all too often. And that's not just in New York, but I think all over the country and all over the world.

Right. I've noticed that as well. I've noticed that in myself and my colleagues. And it's about stepping back and realizing, you know, I think one of the most profound pieces of advice that somebody gave me early on is making me realize that how important and how complex my brain was. It defines everything that we do and everything that we are. And making that work well should be high on our list.

Right. I've noticed that as well. I've noticed that in myself and my colleagues. And it's about stepping back and realizing, you know, I think one of the most profound pieces of advice that somebody gave me early on is making me realize that how important and how complex my brain was. It defines everything that we do and everything that we are. And making that work well should be high on our list.

Chronic stress and buying into that I'm busy all the time culture is not conducive. to brain health. So you want to live a long, healthy, energized life. Start paying attention to all the things you need to do to make your brain work beautifully.

Chronic stress and buying into that I'm busy all the time culture is not conducive. to brain health. So you want to live a long, healthy, energized life. Start paying attention to all the things you need to do to make your brain work beautifully.

They are intertwined in a really complex way. So physiologically, the stress response is enacted by the sympathetic nervous system, and it's all those feelings that we are very familiar with. Increased heart rate, increased respiration rate, our eyes dilate.

They are intertwined in a really complex way. So physiologically, the stress response is enacted by the sympathetic nervous system, and it's all those feelings that we are very familiar with. Increased heart rate, increased respiration rate, our eyes dilate.

There's an upset stomach because actually blood is rushing away from our digestion and reproductive systems towards our muscles because the response is to get us ready to run away, to physically flee. Now, anxiety is the emotion of fearing something that is coming up in the future that could, that we don't like, that could harm us. In its essence, it is protective.

There's an upset stomach because actually blood is rushing away from our digestion and reproductive systems towards our muscles because the response is to get us ready to run away, to physically flee. Now, anxiety is the emotion of fearing something that is coming up in the future that could, that we don't like, that could harm us. In its essence, it is protective.

So, you know, a woman 3.5 million years ago trying to protect her baby wanted to use those feelings of anxiety to keep that baby safe from those physical dangers that were there. The problem is that in today's world, every ping of the phone is anxiety producing, which then launches your stress response. And that keeps us stressful for way too much of the day. So the key, I think, is learning how

So, you know, a woman 3.5 million years ago trying to protect her baby wanted to use those feelings of anxiety to keep that baby safe from those physical dangers that were there. The problem is that in today's world, every ping of the phone is anxiety producing, which then launches your stress response. And that keeps us stressful for way too much of the day. So the key, I think, is learning how

to turn the volume down on those anxiety cues that then launch stress. And learning what they are for yourself, but also using the tools of science to turn that volume down. It's a simple first step that everybody can take. How do we do that? So the first thing that you can do is first realize, you said, how do we know we're stressed? Self-reflect for a moment.

to turn the volume down on those anxiety cues that then launch stress. And learning what they are for yourself, but also using the tools of science to turn that volume down. It's a simple first step that everybody can take. How do we do that? So the first thing that you can do is first realize, you said, how do we know we're stressed? Self-reflect for a moment.

Am I telling everybody I'm stressed all the time? Do I not sleep well because of stress? When you do that, there are my number one and number two tools that I immediately go to. And I know you've talked about this so many times on your show. Number one, because it is immediate stress. is deep breathing, breath work. Why?

Am I telling everybody I'm stressed all the time? Do I not sleep well because of stress? When you do that, there are my number one and number two tools that I immediately go to. And I know you've talked about this so many times on your show. Number one, because it is immediate stress. is deep breathing, breath work. Why?