Letting Go of the Pressure to “Manage” Stress

A More Compassionate Look at the Body’s Design through Christian Counseling in Chicago

Have you ever found yourself reading about stress management or hormone balance, only to feel… even more stressed?

You’re not alone.

As a dance therapist offering Christian counseling in Chicago, I often see how hyperawareness around self-care, striving to be the “best version of oneself,” or doing wellness “right” can turn into just another pressure. Another “should.” Another source of stress.

In a world full of tips, trackers, and expert advice, it’s easy to feel like you’re constantly behind. And while information can be helpful, it can also become overwhelming. The pressure to be in perfect balance often leaves us feeling anxious, disconnected, or uncertain.

But what if there’s another way to think about stress and well-being?

One that invites more trust, grace, and curiosity, not more pressure?

What’s the Difference Between Cortisol and Stress?(And Why It Matters Less Than You Think)

Let’s gently ground ourselves in some basics, not to overanalyze, but to bring a little clarity.

Stress is your body’s natural response to challenge — emotional, physical, or relational. It might show up as tension before a hard conversation, racing thoughts during a busy day, or a tight chest when you feel overwhelmed. These responses are normal.

Cortisol is one of the hormones your body releases when you’re under stress. It gives you the energy and alertness to move through hard moments. In many ways, it’s your body trying to help — to keep you safe, engaged, and responsive.

The problem isn’t stress or cortisol itself. These are part of a beautifully complex system designed to help you adapt and recover.

The real challenge comes when stress becomes chronic — when your body doesn’t get the chance to return to calm. That’s when cortisol levels may stay elevated, and you start to feel depleted, disconnected, or burned out.

However, constant monitoring or hyper-awareness may not be what’s needed.

When “Managing Stress” Feels Like a Full-Time Job

If you’ve ever tried to keep up with wellness advice, you may know the feeling:

“I should be meditating more.”
“I need to calm my nervous system.”
“Maybe I should get my cortisol tested…”

It’s a lot.

Somewhere along the way, the idea of “managing stress” became something we’re supposed to optimize — as if there’s a perfect way to be well, and anything less means we’re falling short.

But you were never meant to control every signal your body sends or treat your wellness like a performance.

Nurturing your well-being can begin with noticing, slowing down, and learning to relate to your body with more compassion, not more control.

Trusting the Body’s Design for Wellness in Christian Counseling

In my experience as a dance therapist, I've often observed that the body naturally seeks to regain balance, and we can learn to collaborate with this process.

Whether you see this as God’s intentional design, a biological process, or a bit of both, the body has an incredible way of leaning toward healing.

It doesn’t need to be micromanaged or constantly corrected. What it often needs is space. Support. Compassion.

As someone who integrates Christian counseling with dance therapy, I love helping clients gently reconnect with their bodies and learn to trust them again.

I see the body as our home, a reflection of something greater than us. From a faith-based perspective, I believe God created our bodies with rhythms and responses that help us live, connect, and engage with the world around us.

Your body holds meaningful information about what you need, where your boundaries are, and how you give and receive care. When we begin to listen, we start to trust.

Gentle, Grounded Ways to Support Your Well-Being

Sometimes, simply pausing to notice what is can be a powerful act of care.

Here are a few small, accessible ways to support your well-being, without turning it into another task:

Pause to breathe

Try a breath prayer or gentle phrase:
Inhale: “I am”
Exhale: “Here”

Or 

 Inhale: “This moment”
Exhale: “Is enough”

Take a walk (or sit) outside

Let your senses guide you.
Notice the wind, the light, the ground beneath your feet.

Place a hand on your chest or belly

A small gesture of self-compassion.
A reminder: You’re allowed to feel what you feel. You don’t have to carry it alone.

You don’t need to understand every hormone level to benefit from these practices — only a willingness to pause and be present.

There’s no “perfect” way to do them. They’re simply invitations to return to your body’s natural rhythms of slowing down, restoring, and reconnecting.

When Stress Feels Too Heavy to Hold Alone

Sometimes, the stress we carry isn’t eased by a walk or a breath. It’s layered. It’s old. It’s tied to past experiences that still live in the body.

That’s when support can make all the difference.

Through Christian counseling in Chicago, I can help you explore what’s weighing on you — emotionally, relationally, and spiritually — without judgment or pressure.

Through a blend of talk therapy, movement, and (if desired) faith-rooted reflection, we’ll work together to gently reconnect your body, mind, and spirit.

You don’t have to come in calm or clear. You just need a willingness to begin.

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Monitor Everything to Be Okay

You were never meant to live in constant self-surveillance.

You don’t need to track every hormone or eliminate every ounce of stress to live well.
You can begin right where you are — with a little more curiosity, a little more compassion, and a lot less pressure.

 Whether you see your body as a gift from God, a resilient system, or both, it’s not failing you.
It’s speaking — asking for care, attention, and kindness.

Book a Free Consultation for Christian Counseling in Chicago

If you’re longing to feel more grounded, more connected, or simply more at ease in your own skin, so you can show up for yourself and the people you love, I invite you to consider Christian counseling in Chicago. Let’s explore your wellness journey together.

Lisaura is a relationship therapist in Chicago who, through individual counseling and dance therapy, helps adults connect with themselves and others more fully.   

Spanish-speaking therapy is available.