I'm An M.D. & This Is The Supplement I Take To Cope With Chronic Stress

You name it, I've probably done it for managing my own stress. I've had several burnout phases throughout my life—after medical school, residency, and starting a company—I was just doing too many things at the same time.

I'd notice that my skin wasn't as bright, and it was breaking out more. My digestion wasn't as strong, I'd have a hard time with fasting, and my blood sugar wasn't as optimal as it could be. These cues tell me stress is using up my capacity, and I need to take a break. 

When I get into one of these states, I try to scale back my work, travel, do a bunch of outdoor activities, and reconnect with my community. I reach out to a support group for women who deal with anxious thoughts. Soon, I'll start feeling new levels of well-being and feeling resourced again. 

You've probably heard about using CBD for managing stress. As a substance, CBD (or cannabidiol, the main ingredient of hemp extract) is truly fascinating, but there are additional benefits to hemp extract over CBD because it contains more than cannabidiol.* 

Hemp extract also contains phytocannabinoids and terpenes, which have additional benefits like supporting the immune system and digestive system and promoting neurological health.* This is likely due to the "entourage effect," which basically means that the ingredients in the extract taken together work synergistically in a way that provides greater health benefits than the individual ingredients on their own.* 

With hemp extract, though, it's paramount that you choose the highest-quality supplier you can find and do your homework on how the product is tested. In general, European product testing standards for hemp extracts are more rigorous and stringent than U.S. standards, so choose products that comply accordingly. In collaboration with trusted manufacturers, mindbodygreen developed its E.U. Certified hemp formula.

If you feel your level of well-being is declining and you're waking up every day feeling tired, that's a sign that you need a break. Most people just power through it and end up with a serious illness, or their body is in a state of weakness. But it's possible to maintain a state of balance and resilience—if you have the right support.