How to Thrive Under Stress | Elizabeth Stanley, PhD

Crisis & Growth

Elizabeth Stanley's journey through crisis is marked by profound challenges, including episodes of blindness caused by Lyme disease contracted during her military service. She describes how these health crises were compounded by unresolved trauma and chronic inflammation, leading to a turning point in her life 1. Stanley's experiences highlight the complex interplay between physical ailments and emotional stress, illustrating how adversity can catalyze personal growth.

I had been really sick while I was on active duty. I'd had a near death experience. I had to be resuscitated.

--- Elizabeth Stanley, PhD

This narrative aligns with the Stoic philosophy that adversity is an opportunity for self-proving, as shared by Ryan Holliday, emphasizing that challenges are not inherently negative but can be transformative 2.

   

Mindful Healing

Stanley's path to healing involved embracing mindfulness and meditation, which she discovered during a tumultuous period in her life. Her military background and family history of PTSD set the stage for her own struggles with stress and trauma, leading her to explore meditation as a means of coping 3. Through meditation, she began to uncover deep-seated imbalances and traumas, which initially intensified her distress but ultimately facilitated healing.

I started practicing. It brought a little bit of relief. It also really uncovered all of the major imbalances.

--- Elizabeth Stanley, PhD

Her experiences underscore the transformative power of mindfulness in addressing trauma, even when the process seems daunting 4.