You could also try to think your way out of stress. “Stress is a thought, a perception of a threat, even if it is not real—this means we have control over stress because it’s not something that happens to us but something that happens in us,” says Hyman. Meditating or going outside for a walk can help you shift your mindset and regain control. Finally, try ending your day with a hot lavender bath at night, or as Hyman calls it, the UltraBath. “Take two cups of Epsom salts, half a cup of baking soda, 10 drops of lavender oil, and soak for 20 minutes,” he says. “Lavender oil lowers cortisol and helps to balance the whole hormonal system.” Stressful situations can cause a surge or reduction of certain hormones, which can, in turn, affect your mental and physical health if left unrecognized. It’s important to tune into your body and make relevant lifestyle adjustments to help manage stress and get hormone levels back in check.
