Dr. Wendy Suzuki

I think that the answer to that is so many people are appreciating at a higher level their stress and anxiety and depression. A little bit of that is actually good for the brain. chronic all the time, can't get out from under the cloud or the big rock around your neck that anxiety can feel like, that is not good for your brain.

I think that the answer to that is so many people are appreciating at a higher level their stress and anxiety and depression. A little bit of that is actually good for the brain. chronic all the time, can't get out from under the cloud or the big rock around your neck that anxiety can feel like, that is not good for your brain.

High levels of stress overall will start to first damage and then kill some neurons in your brain. That is not good. So if you are at that level, that is not good for your brain.

High levels of stress overall will start to first damage and then kill some neurons in your brain. That is not good. So if you are at that level, that is not good for your brain.

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