Stress is something we all experience, yet so many of us believe it’s something harmful we need to avoid at all costs. In this episode of Plain View, Kristine and Elise explore how our mindset about stress may be just as important as the stress itself.
They talk about the ways we’ve been taught to fear stress, the common symptoms we tend to misinterpret, and the research that suggests our beliefs about stress shape how it impacts us. With stories from their own lives and reflections from the Plain View community, they offer language and tools to better understand stress, and a healthier way to respond to it.
The episode ends with a guided practice from Kristine to help you recognize what your stress might be telling you, and how to meet it with more clarity and care.
Timestamps & Key Topics:
00:00 – Opening check-in: Feeling stress while talking about stress
01:42 – Feeling like stress is in the driver’s seat
02:10 – Stress-shaming headlines & how we internalize them03:09 – Community poll results: 78% report high stress; 90% say it’s harming their health
04:27 – Why modern stressors are harder to complete (and why burnout is so common)
06:23 – How to complete the stress cycle: movement, breath, connection, laughter, crying
09:07 – The healing nature of water: crying, showers, oceans, hydration
10:32 – Comfort shows and background YouTube as nervous system regulation
11:03 – Art, affection, and 20-second hugs: more ways to release stress
12:10 – Kristine’s “aha” moment: study from The Upside of Stress
13:57 – “Stress is what arises when something you care about is at stake”
15:26 – What’s causing us stress now: community responses & personal reflections
19:36 – How mindset influences the chemical effects of stress
20:09 – Stress mindset theory: harmful vs. enhancing
21:28 – How mindset shifts change not just thoughts—but behavior
24:45 – “See it, own it, use it”: three steps to rethink stress
27:52 – What stress feels like: jaw clenching, panic, brain fog, stomach issues
28:35 – Symptoms = your body trying to help
30:11 – Challenge stress, tend-and-befriend, performance stress, and fight-flight-freeze
31:26 – Reframing stress as part of learning and nervous system growth
32:56 – Normalizing nervousness, asking for help, and honoring your humanness
35:39 – Guided practice: reframing your stress and channeling its energy
Resources we mentioned in the episode:
The Episode of Stress by Kelly McGonigal
Rethinking Stress: The Role of Mindsets in Determining the Stress Response (Crum, et AL 2013)
Connect with Us:
on Instagram @plai.nview
Elise Joseph James – elisejosephjames.com
Kristine Claghorn – claggie.com
You can also find us over on Substack: Elise & Kristine
The Episode 4 cover is a photo from Kristine’s old family photo album.
