But let’s say we do learn to integrate our left brain neuroceptions. How does that help us with stress management? When we watch high quality, proactive coping systems in action, the first critical step in managing stress is the simple recognition that it exists. It sounds silly to say, but the truth is that most of us have learned to ignore our own experience of stress because it’s more comfortable, makes us feel more in control, or makes us appear stronger. The experience of stress is hard to notice, because we often make rational (left brain) observations about stressors. We say things to ourselves such as “Yeah I have some insecurity at work,” or “My dad’s illness is getting worse.” This gives the impression of the recognition of the stress. But notice that those are perceptions. They are thoughts about the situation in language. What we are ignoring are the neuroceptions. We ignore the feelings and intuitions about the situation, what is sometimes referred to as “our gut.”
