In this episode of Parenting for Thought, I’m joined by Rachel Mark, an acupuncturist and integrative health coach, to unpack how our nervous system handles stress. Rachel breaks down what "activation" really means—it’s not just about being obviously stressed—and shares relatable examples from daily life.

We chat about how the sympathetic (fight/flight) and parasympathetic (rest/digest) nervous systems work, why modern stress feels so overwhelming, and how our emotional responses (like anger!) are often misunderstood. Rachel shares practical tips for hitting pause and resetting your system, plus we explore neuroplasticity and how the patterns we picked up as kids can be rewired.

Come hang out with us for this inspiring, down-to-earth conversation about stress, emotions, and building a calmer, healthier life—for you and your kids.

Here’s the breakdown: 00:00 Activation & Stress (it’s not what you think!) 01:17 Intro to Parenting for Thought 02:09 Meet Rachel Mark 05:36 How the Nervous System Works 11:56 Fight/Flight vs. Rest/Digest 17:15 Real-Life Stress Responses 21:28 The Invisible Load of Moms 22:52 What a Healthy Nervous System Really Looks Like 25:38 Safe Ways to Express Emotions 30:21 Childhood Experiences & Nervous System Patterns 36:01 How to Rewire Your Stress Response 40:35 Stress-Busting Tips for Parents 43:42 Wrap-Up & Resources

Find and connect with Rachel here:

http://www.rachelmark.ca/

https://www.instagram.com/rachelmark.ca/

Website: https://www.rachelmark.ca/

Free quiz to find out how much stress is affecting your hormones:

https://www.rachelmark.ca/quiz

Free sleep meditation:

https://www.rachelmark.ca/sleep-meditation

$22 Reset to Ditch Stress and Recharge your Hormones:

https://www.rachelmark.ca/10DayReset

Find and connect with Emry here:

https://www.emrykettle.com

https://www.instagram.com/emrykettle.coach/