Mind Your Farm Business — Ep. 65: Dealing with chronic stress and trauma

Biologically speaking, some stress is good for the body. Stress responses are necessary at times to act quickly, to run, or to see a project through.

That said, too much stress or being under stress for too long can lead to both mental and physical hardship. Farmers, as a group, are 68 per cent more likely than the general population to experience chronic stress. Why is that?

Lauren Van Ewyk, social worker, mental health advocate, and owner of Wellspring Counselling Services, says that farmers deal with incredible stresses largely out of their control, and also experience post-traumatic stress disorder, often without recognizing it for what it is.

Van Ewyk works with farms and farm families to identify the difference between stress and anxiety, the role cortisol plays in our bodies and minds, and ultimately, what farmers can do to better take care of their mental and physical well being.

Listen on to this podcast for a practical, farm-level discussion on how stress can help or hurt, and how to access tools to manage stress and anxiety:

Disclaimer: Royal Bank of Canada and its subsidiaries are not responsible for the information provided in this podcast, and this information does not necessarily reflect the views of Royal Bank of Canada or any of its subsidiaries. No endorsement of any third parties or their advice, opinions, information, products or services is expressly given or implied by Royal Bank of Canada or any of its subsidiaries.

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