Monday Jan 13, 2025

Understanding Stress Response: A Chat with Rachel Mark

In this episode of Parenting for Thought, I’m joined by Rachel Mark, an acupuncturist and integrative health coach, to unpack how our nervous system handles stress. Rachel breaks down what "activation" really means—it’s not just about being obviously stressed—and shares relatable examples from daily life.

We chat about how the sympathetic (fight/flight) and parasympathetic (rest/digest) nervous systems work, why modern stress feels so overwhelming, and how our emotional responses (like anger!) are often misunderstood. Rachel shares practical tips for hitting pause and resetting your system, plus we explore neuroplasticity and how the patterns we picked up as kids can be rewired.

Come hang out with us for this inspiring, down-to-earth conversation about stress, emotions, and building a calmer, healthier life—for you and your kids.

Here’s the breakdown:
00:00 Activation & Stress (it’s not what you think!)
01:17 Intro to Parenting for Thought
02:09 Meet Rachel Mark
05:36 How the Nervous System Works
11:56 Fight/Flight vs. Rest/Digest
17:15 Real-Life Stress Responses
21:28 The Invisible Load of Moms
22:52 What a Healthy Nervous System Really Looks Like
25:38 Safe Ways to Express Emotions
30:21 Childhood Experiences & Nervous System Patterns
36:01 How to Rewire Your Stress Response
40:35 Stress-Busting Tips for Parents
43:42 Wrap-Up & Resources