I was losing hair, with the front of my forehead thinning and my scalp showing. I always thought it was genetic, which to a certain extent it is. Obviously, as I grow older, my hairline recedes and my hair thins. It’s natural.

But during the last years of operating my restaurant, we were barely able to make ends meet. It was a daily battle. Incredibly stressful months during the pandemic.

Macario, my main cook, told me that stress was causing me to lose hair. I sort of thought it was a contributing factor, but again, I just thought it was natural as I aged.

Nowadays, three years later, my hair is thicker, it's harder to see my scalp. How is that possible? I grew older, not younger.

Turns out stress was indeed a strong contributing factor to my hair loss.

Stress over prolonged periods can deteriorate your body. Numerous studies have shown the strong connection between stress and physical illness. Stress can suppress the immune system, making you more susceptible to infections and disease. It can contribute to high blood pressure, heart disease, and an increased risk of heart attacks and strokes.

It is closely linked to mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, and insomnia. It can worsen existing chronic pain conditions and increase the perception of pain. It can lead to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as overeating or poor dietary choices, increasing you weight.

It can exacerbate skin conditions such as acne and psoriasis. I have psoriasis, and I can tell you with certainty that skin rashes erupt when I am experiencing more stress.

The body's response to stress can have profound effects on both physical and mental health.

So what did I do to manage stress?

First, I accepted that no matter what I did in life, I’d experience some level of stress. It’s inevitable. Second, I breathed. I breathed deeply and slowly. Slowing my breath, which slowed my heart rate, which in turn made me calmer.

Then I decided to close the restaurant; it was a sinking ship, and nothing I did could save it. Then I doubled down on my meditation and self-reflection practices. Remembering that I am not my mind, that it is my tool. That I am in control, not the other way around.

So, if you find yourself in stressful situations in life, don’t stress. Macario is always in the middle of stressful situations, but he never stresses. That’s why he has hair as thick as an elementary school boy, and he is much older than me.

If you can avoid unnecessarily stressful events, do it. Just like I eventually decided to close the restaurant. But more often than not, you won’t be able to. You’ll have to learn to deal with it.

In which case, breathe. The breath is the most powerful tool you have at your disposal. And remember that you are not your mind. You are the awareness, the consciousness behind it.

You can observe the stress and let it go when it doesn’t serve you. Meditate daily to cultivate this perception. Step into a life of greater calm and clarity.