Mar 10 2025 32 mins
Ever feel like stress is just... part of life? Like no matter how much deep breathing you do, your to-do list laughs in your face?
Here’s the deal: You don’t just need less stress—you need a bigger bucket to hold it.
I just had a game-changing conversation with Dr. Jenny (one of our fantastic docs on the team!) about increasing your capacity for stress. Because let’s be real: some stressors aren’t going anywhere. The job you can’t leave yet. The special needs child you love fiercely. The ongoing life changes. The answer isn’t just “reduce stress.” It’s learning how to handle it better.
Imagine your stress capacity as a glass of water. If it’s already full to the brim, one more drop sends it overflowing. But what if you could make the glass bigger? That’s the goal.
Here’s how you start expanding your stress bucket:
✅ Know your cortisol levels. High and low cortisol can feel the same—exhaustion, brain fog, and overwhelm. Testing (like the DUTCH test) helps you treat the actual issue, not just guess.
✅ Support your adrenals. Your body is working hard. Give it what it needs—nutrients, sleep, and the right adaptogens (because the wrong ones can make things worse!).
✅ Make it a lifestyle. This isn’t a quick fix. Women who truly feel better see changes over 3-6 months, sometimes even a year. But the results? Worth it.
Here’s what I love: When you understand your body, you stop fighting it. You learn to work with it, build resilience, and feel more you again.
Sometimes, the way forward isn’t something you figure out on your own. Whether it’s working with a practitioner, trying acupuncture, seeing a chiropractor, or just reaching out to a friend who gets it—getting support isn’t a weakness, it’s wisdom. You don’t have to do this alone.
Here’s what’s amazing: when you start taking care of yourself, the world around you shifts, too. You feel more like yourself again. You have more patience. More energy. More capacity to show up for the people you love. It’s not just about stress—it’s about reclaiming your vibrancy.
If you are ready to increase your capacity for stress and FEEL better, get started with a hormone test here: https://drbethwestie.com/dutch-hormone-testing/