Weekly Insight: Perceived vs. real stress
Earlier this week I had jury duty.
And while I never actually had to sit on a case, the buildup almost wrecked me.
I was so nervous about all the unknowns:
→ being out of the house all day
→ how the kids would operate without me
→ what dinner would look like
→ missing my workouts
→ falling behind at work
By the time I got there, I was already overwhelmed with stress.
And then… I got released the same day.
Home in time to finish some work, get in a workout, and put dinner on the table.
But here’s the problem:
My body didn’t know the difference.
Even though nothing “bad” actually happened, I ended up with a pounding migraine, exhaustion, and woke up with what can only be described as a jury duty hangover.
Why does this happen?
Research shows that perceived stress and real stress feel the same to your body.
Your brain doesn’t care if the threat is a lion chasing you through the woods… or you worrying about how dinner will get on the table.
It flips the same switch.
Stress hormones flood.
Your heart rate climbs.
Your nervous system goes on high alert.
And if that switch stays flipped too long, you end up with the same symptoms: headaches, fatigue, mood swings, cravings, restless sleep.
What you can do (and what I’ll try next time)
Because yes, even though I know better - I can’t always implement everything in my own life!
1. Pause the story loop. Catch yourself when you start playing out “what ifs” and stay present with the facts.
2. Signal safety. Simple actions like deep breathing, legs up the wall, or stepping outside for sunlight can calm your nervous system.
3. Move it through. Walk, stretch, or lift. Movement tells your body the threat has passed.
4. Build recovery in. Prioritize sleep, hydration, and protein-rich meals to help your body bounce back.
Stress will always be part of life.
But learning to tell my body: you’re safe now, that’s the real work.
👉 What about you? Do you feel your body react just as strongly to “imagined” stress as real stress? Reply and let me know. I’d love to hear!
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