Ever felt stuck in ongoing situations that never seem to change and leave you feeling exhausted, frustrated or hopeless? In this episode, we talk about the unique stress that comes from chronic, unresolved circumstances and why these stress loops are so hard to escape. Learn why your nervous system stays activated in repetitive stress, how bitterness and emotional hardening quietly form, and what it looks like to begin finding peace even when nothing around you changes. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN [00:00] Why Ongoing Stress Feels Different Than Everyday Stress [02:00] Why Can’t I Feel Peace When Nothing Is Changing? [05:00] How Repetitive Stress Activates the Nervous System and Shapes Reactions [08:00] When Unresolved Situations Create Emotional Baggage and Resentment [11:00] Does Letting Go Mean We’re Giving Up? [14:00] How Chronic Stress Affects Emotional and Physical Health [17:00] Awareness Is the First Step Out of Stress Loops [20:00] How to Begin Noticing and Naming Stress Without Judgment  Join me for the Virtual Rest Retreat in Feb 2026!  Are you exhausted and in need of deep rest (but can’t get away)? Find rest with God that fits your budget, your schedule and your season of life at my Bible-based virtual retreat for Christian women seeking deep replenishment of mind, body and spirit!  Register for the virtual rest retreat: AliciaMichelle.com/virtual-rest-retreat   RELATED EPISODES: Ep 348: How Can We Find Rest That Actually Restores Body, Mind and Soul? Ep 344: How to DIY Your Own Rest Retreat (When Getting Away Feels Impossible) Ep 347: When What You’re Doing to Rest Isn’t Working — Living with Hidden Burnout + Exhaustion Send a text