PREVIEW: Stress is something we humans cannot avoid. From being cut off in traffic on our way to work, to navigating a global pandemic, we all face it regularly to some degree. So, how do we respond to stress? How do we prevent our thoughts from spiraling, our emotions from taking control, and our actions from causing even more damage? Open Sky Clinical Therapist Brian Leidal will address these questions and more in our conversation today. He’ll also provide five actionable steps for grounding the nervous system and responding to stress in alignment with core values.   GUEST PROFILE: BRIAN LEIDAL, MA, LPC Brian joined Open Sky in 2013 as a Family Services therapist and now works as a primary therapist with young adults. He loves to help his students witness and understand how thoughts and thought patterns influence emotions, which then influence behaviors. He is on the podcast today to do the same for you, our listeners!   TOPICS COVERED: Stress, nervous system, responding to stress, breathing techniques, coping skills, core values, therapy, wilderness therapy, treatment, emotion regulation   SELECT QUOTES: “Under chronic stress, under a great deal of emotion, it’s normal for our stories that we’re telling ourselves to be skewed toward the negative. Even with people that we love; especially with the people we love. The practice here is to recognize when that’s happening, do something that’s more constructive for your relationships and your values, than acting impulsively.” “When those thoughts become repetitive and pervasive, they actually do have an effect on our nervous systems. And as a result, that’s where these negative core beliefs can become reinforced and entrenched.” “Try from that grounded space to think of a more compassionate alternative story than the one you just made up. By doing that last step, this is a way to reprogram these chronic stress stories that we tell ourselves about ourselves, the world, our families, our friends, the situation.”   “It’s a constant practice for myself to not jump to the conclusion of the negative bias. This requires mindfulness, it requires practice, just like any skill that we learn. And it’s one that I continue to aspire to as well.”See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.