Stress management strategies and the role of adaptogens

Stress continues to impact a significant portion of the population, with 2025 data from the American Psychological Association indicating that 50 percent of US adults report physical or emotional symptoms related to stress.

Experts suggest several lifestyle interventions to manage stress, including meditation, regular exercise, healthy eating, maintaining sleep routines, and seeking therapy. Cognitive behavioural coach Elizabeth Walker notes that stress often manifests through subtle, everyday habits such as expressive suppression—the act of bottling up emotions—and impulse purchasing.

Additionally, research is exploring the use of adaptogens, which are substances found in certain herbs and fungi. These substances are thought to help the body manage stress by interacting with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis to help maintain homeostasis.