An RN’s Take on Stress, Stones, and the Strange Ways We Cope

Over the last four months, my life has looked like the opening scene of a movie where the audience whispers, “Oh no… she’s about to snap.”

No job. No sales on Etsy or eBay. Blog still warming up. Notary commission still pending. Dynamic Clinical Support just getting off the ground (and taking every spare brain cell I have). Surrounded by naysayers and buzz-kills.

By all accounts, I should be a puddle of melted Jell‑O on the floor.  And yet — I’m not.

I’m surprisingly okay. Not euphoric. Not delusional. Just… steady.

And I’ve been asking myself the same question you’re probably thinking:

Why am I not more upset?  Crying? Unraveling?

Well, here’s where it gets interesting.

Recently, I wandered into a crystal shop – it was empty and air-conditioned – in Houston.  The very excited shop owner hurried over, and it began. My education in what I will refer as stones – though there were crystals, stones, rocks, and gemstones. It was interesting enough, then she asked an interesting question, “What bothers you?” I thought for a minute — “Negativity.  Negative people.”

She backed me up to the black tourmaline. Handed me a bracelet and said “Wear this. Do not take it off for a week.”  That was a month ago.  I may never take this off.  It could be polished lumps of coal for I know but — something shifted. Not dramatically. Not magically. Just enough that I notice fewer emotional “pings” hitting me.

Now, before anyone panics:  No, I haven’t abandoned science or the logic of medicine. No, I’m not promoting crystals with therapeutic properties. And yes, I’m still very much an RN who understands physiology, stress hormones, and the – all important – placebo effect.

But here’s the thing professionals rarely talk about:

Sometimes the smallest, most symbolic things help us stay grounded when life is anything but.

The Science Behind “Why This Might Actually Make Sense”

Let me put my RN hat on for a moment.  When life feels unpredictable, the nervous system looks for anything that feels stable, familiar, or comforting. That can be a

• Routine
• Ritual
• Symbolic object
• Belief

This isn’t “spiritual” or “mystical.”  This is neurobiology.

Here’s what might actually be happening:

1. Sensory grounding

Touching or feeling something with texture gives your brain a physical anchor. It interrupts spiraling thoughts and pulls your attention back into your body instead of letting it drift into worst‑case scenarios.

2. Predictability

Your nervous system loves predictability. Wearing the same object every day creates a micro‑ritual that signals safety.

3. Meaning-making

Humans assign meaning to objects. Always have. Always will. It’s part of how we cope.

4. Placebo effect (which is still a real effect)

Placebo isn’t “fake.” Placebo is your brain saying, “Let me help you out.”

5. A moment of control in a season of no control

When everything feels chaotic, even a tiny sense of normalcy can calm the system.

So no — the stones aren’t “fixing” my life.

But they might be helping my nervous system stay regulated while I navigate a season that would flatten most people.

And honestly? I’ll take it.

Professionals Don’t Talk About This Enough

We talk about productivity. We talk about burnout. We talk about resilience. We talk about “high performance.”

But we don’t talk about the quiet, personal things we use to stay sane:

• A lucky pen
• A morning ritual
• A grounding object
• A mantra
• A stone
• A prayer
• A playlist
• A habit that makes no logical sense but works anyway

These aren’t signs of weakness. They’re signs of humanity.

And in a world where professionals are stretched thin, emotionally overloaded, and expected to function like machines, maybe it’s time we normalize the small things that help us stay steady.

My RN Conclusion

I’m not calm because life is easy. I’m calm because my nervous system found something to hold onto.

Maybe it’s the stones. The symbolism. The belief. Maybe it’s none of that.  Humans are wired to survive even when circumstances look bleak.

Whatever the reason, I’m grateful for the calm — and I think more professionals should feel comfortable exploring the tools that help them stay grounded, whether they’re scientific, symbolic, spiritual, or somewhere in between… If it helps you stay upright during a hard season, it’s worth it.