Stress isn't the problem — never letting it go is. In this pilot episode of Morning Rounds, Dr. Sompa Otabil-Nelson breaks down the stress response cycle: what actually happens in your body when your internal alarm system switches on, and why modern life rarely gives it the "all clear" signal it needs to switch back off. Drawing from real stories from her clinic, Dr. Sompa unpacks the difference between stress, chronic fatigue, and burnout, debunks common myths, and walks through simple, actionable tools — including a live breathing exercise — for actually closing the cycle instead of carrying it silently. Plus: a stress trivia round, listener call-ins, and real voice-memo questions answered on air.

Topics covered: the stress response cycle, cortisol and fight-or-flight, chronic fatigue, burnout warning signs, stress in men vs. women, stress in kids and teens, and practical coping tools.

Morning Rounds airs on Starr 103.5 FM every Saturday.