So! I was doing some research earlier recently, and it turns out that anxiety, depression, burnout, stress, and even things like ADHD, bipolar disorder, and suicidal ideation are among the most searched topics online. People are looking to self-diagnose, figure out whether they have these conditions, find ways to treat them, or simply find help.
It really seems like, these days, people are experiencing burnout, stress, and anxiety more than ever before. And we often don't have the time to manage it, let alone get to the bottom of it, uncover the root causes, and begin healing them at a fundamental level.
I know a lot of people are even using various AI platforms as therapists these days—which, honestly, I'm not going to argue with. They can actually be surprisingly helpful. But I don't think they can always help us get all the way down to the bedrock, the foundations from which so much of our anxiety grows, especially while we're living in a world where the onslaught never seems to stop.
Oftentimes, it can feel like we've finally dug ourselves out from beneath one avalanche that we were woefully underprepared for. We finally stick our heads above the snow... only to see the next avalanche already racing toward us—and another one right behind it.
I was once in Hawaii, and honestly, I've never been a particularly good swimmer. I've also never been especially interested in putting myself in the, for me, horrifying position of being in water where I can't touch the ground and have nothing to hold onto. Makes, sense, right?!
I had a couple of near-drowning experiences when I was a teenager, so I've always done my best to maintain what I'll generously call a very healthy respect for open water.
What I'm really saying between the lines is that I have a pretty solid fear of it. And honestly, that's one fear I'm okay living with for now. I've got bigger fish to fry. Moving on!
Anyway... back to Hawaii.
I was in a pretty carefree state of mind, which is incredibly rare for me—rarer than it should be, anyway. I ventured out into the water. First it was up to my knees, and I thought, "Hey... this isn't so bad."
Then it reached my waist. Still fine.
Eventually it was up to my chest. The waves were breaking over me a little, and it was actually kind of fun... until one wave seemed to come completely out of nowhere and sent me tumbling underwater toward the beach.
That alone was terrifying.
But when I finally managed to get my head above water and my feet—very tenuously—back onto the sand, another wave immediately slammed into me and dragged me under again.
It happened several more times.
By the grace of whoever seems to think my time isn't up just yet, I eventually made it out.
And that's kind of what I'm talking about.
That's what stress can feel like.
The waves aren't always polite enough to wait until we've caught our breath.
And you know what? They're probably not going away anytime soon.
But what we choose to focus on gradually occupies more and more real estate in our minds.
Life is already difficult enough without constantly exposing ourselves to endless headlines about another disaster, another war, another tragedy unfolding somewhere in the world.
By no means am I saying we should bury our heads in the sand or become unaware of what's happening around us.
But I do think we have to be honest with ourselves and ask whether we can actually carry all of it.
There's only so much any one of us can do.
Adding more fear, more anxiety, and more despair into an already overcrowded mind isn't doing us—or the world—any favors.
Anxiety, stress, burnout, and depression are all things I've dealt with through much of my adult life, sometimes in small ways, and sometimes in ways that felt absolutely crippling, or, brobdingnagian (look THAT one up!). I know much of that stems from early childhood trauma.
Oddly enough, it's been an honor, a privilege, and even a pleasure to begin exploring that seedy underworld, because it's helped make me who I am.
With the help of some incredibly talented Somatic Experiencing therapists—many of whom I found through Psychologytoday.com or through trusted referrals—I've been able to trace many of my patterns, behaviors, and symptoms back to where they began.
It reminds me of the movie Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, where that mad scientist tracks down Jim Carrey's memories and zaps them.
But just like Jim Carrey's character, those tenacious memories always seemed to find a way back to the surface.
So do our stored traumas.
And so do the stresses that constantly compete for our attention.
My name is Daniel, and Space of Love Foods is my company.
I've formulated products that genuinely, (sorry, my lawyer just said I have to say) MAY support people experiencing stress, anxiety, burnout, and nervous system overload—whether those challenges are physical, mental, or emotional.
But I also know that sometimes throwing the entire medicine cabinet at a nervous system isn't enough.
If the underlying patterns remain, they often come back.
Again.
And again.
Kind of like that guy in the hockey mask from the horror movies that somehow managed to produce what feels like a thousand sequels.
Every time you think he's finally gone... there he is again.
Stress can be like that.
I'm not sure any of us can make it disappear forever while we're living in this world, trying to earn a living, care for the people we love, and build a meaningful life.
I'm also a huge advocate of practices like breathwork, physical movement of ANY kind. I had a gym membership for a while and finally went in after 6 months and wanted a refund because I didn't see any progress or change. The person behind the counter looked me up and said, "But sir, you haven't come in once..." I was like, "no one told me I had to actually come in!"
I recently read a book by James Nestor, and he describes several breathing techniques that people have found profoundly transformative.
Some have been incredibly impactful in my own life.
Sometimes they've helped for days.
Sometimes for weeks.
Sometimes only for a few minutes.
But when you're feeling really, really bad, even a few minutes of relief can feel like a Hawaiian vacation.
Assuming, of course, that all Hawaiian vacations are amazing... which, as I've learned, isn't always the case.
So hopefully you can take that metaphor in the spirit it was intended.
For those of you out there who are hurting right now, I simply want you to know this:
I'm with you.
We're with you.
And we want to do everything we're able to do to support you.
Thank you for supporting us.
We couldn't do what we're doing without you.
One of the primary missions of Space of Love Foods is to ease the pressure for as many people as we possibly can—whether that's for a few minutes, a few years, or, hopefully, a lifetime.
I'm looking forward to sharing much more with you about the larger vision behind Space of Love Foods: how we hope to help revolutionize the corporate environment, improve the way we care for one another, and create a healthier, more compassionate world.
So, from all of us here at Space of Love Foods—which, is really just me right now...for now...
Here's to your mental, emotional, and physical well-being.
Thank you.
If you'd like to learn how adaptogens may support your nervous system, energy levels, and resilience to stress, check out my article: Best Adaptogens for Stress, Burnout & Nervous System Support.
