Self-Care & Mental Wellness: Eddie Stern Of The Breathing App for Diabetes On The Top Five Self-Care Practices That Improve Mental Wellness

An Interview With Maria Angelova

Build a Strong Social Support System: Surround yourself with a supportive network of friends and loved ones whom you trust and can confide in. Research, such as the case of Roseto, described in the Malcolm Gladwell book, suggests that having close ties can serve as a powerful buffer against stress. Regularly connecting with supportive people can significantly reduce tension and stress levels, enhancing your overall well-being.

Let’s face it. It seems that everyone is under a great deal of stress these days. This takes a toll on our mental wellness. What are some of the best self-care practices that we can use to help improve our mental wellness and mental well-being? In this interview series, we are talking to medical doctors, mental health professionals, health and wellness professionals, and experts about self-care or mental health who can share insights from their experience about How Each Of Us Can Use Self Care To Improve Our Mental Wellness. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Eddie Stern.

Eddie Stern is a seasoned entrepreneur and the founder of The Breathing App For Diabetes, the first app that helps people with diabetes lower their stress levels. Eddie is an author, lecturer, and certified yoga instructor with over 35 years of experience. Through The Breathing App for Diabetes, he is developing the first simple solution to facilitate mindful breathing for those with desease.

Thank you so much for doing this interview with us. It is a great honor. Our readers would love to learn more about you and your personal background. Can you please share your personal story? What has brought you to this point in your life?

Thank you! I hail from New York and established my first business during my school years. However, at age 20, I embarked on a transformative journey to India, delving deep into yogic studies. Upon my return, I committed myself entirely to yoga, founding a yoga school and a Hindu temple in New York. In 2011, I delved into scientific research, examining yoga’s effects on hypertension in a study funded by the National Institute of Health.

Fuelled by my passion, I pursued a Master’s in Science with a focus on Yoga Research from an Indian Research Institute, centering my dissertation on Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Purpose in Life. Through exploration, I unearthed coherent breathing, which laid the groundwork for “The Breathing App.” This app swiftly garnered immense popularity, accumulating over half a million downloads and serving as the cornerstone for my current project.

What is your “WHY” behind what you do? What fuels you?

The “why” behind what I do is rooted in the belief that many diseases worldwide are preventable and reversible. With my training in various methods, I am driven to make these interventions accessible to as many people as possible. It pains me to see individuals suffer needlessly from illnesses that can be managed through lifestyle changes. Unfortunately, not everyone has access to these interventions. My goal is to offer low-cost, direct-to-consumer solutions, starting with addressing the burden of diseases like diabetes.

Sometimes our mistakes can be our greatest teachers. Can you share a story about a mistake or failure which you now appreciate has taught you a valuable lesson?

One of the biggest mistakes I’ve made was ignoring the red flags I sensed about people or situations I was involved in. I convinced myself that I could overlook these warning signs and still achieve success in my endeavors. This taught me the importance of listening to my intuition and recognizing when someone or something isn’t right for me. I learned the hard way, through a few tough situations, that disregarding my moral compass never leads to the best outcomes. So now, whenever those red flags arise, I pay attention, trust my instincts, and act accordingly, never compromising my ethics or morals, because success is not worth it.

You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

I believe the three most instrumental traits are: Number one is listening. Being a good listener is crucial. I make it a point to listen to the people on my teams and be responsive to their needs. Second one, learning how to communicate clearly and kindly. And the last one, always maintaining a good sense of humor, not taking things too seriously. You know not to laugh away at things that are serious, but always remember the importance of allowing things to be funny at the right time and place, creating joyful working conditions. This also enables people not to take themselves too seriously all the time.

What are some of the most interesting or exciting new projects you are working on now? How do you think that will help people?

One of the most exciting projects I’m working on expands on the success of the Breathing App, which my team and I developed in 2017. Originally designed to aid stress, anxiety, sleep issues, and hypertension through mindful breathing, the app garnered over a million downloads and maintained around 60,000 monthly users.

Recognizing the saturated market of mindfulness and breathing apps, we shifted focus towards addressing healthcare needs, targeting individuals with non-communicable diseases like diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, chronic stress, anxiety, and digestive disorders.

Our aim is to integrate slow breathing practices and mindfulness techniques into treatment plans for these health challenges, as research shows they significantly support overall well-being. With a particular focus on diabetes, we provide tailored breathing practices to help manage stress levels and improve health outcomes.

Beyond offering another mindfulness app, our vision is to make a tangible difference in the lives of those with chronic health conditions. By combining technology and mindfulness practices, we aim to revolutionize how individuals approach their health, ultimately enhancing their quality of life.

OK, thank you for all of that. Let’s now shift to the main focus of our interview, about the interface between self-care and mental health. From where you stand personally or professionally, why are you so passionate about mental well-being?

Well, mental well-being is a crucial aspect that often gets overlooked or underestimated. What people may not realize is that mental well-being is deeply intertwined with our physical health, something I’ve come to understand through my 35 years of studying yoga traditions. Our bodies and minds are intricately connected, forming a continuum where our thoughts, emotions, and physical sensations influence one another.

In the realm of self-care, there’s often an emphasis on the physical aspects, with mental and emotional well-being taking a back seat. However, it’s essential to recognize that our mental state significantly impacts our ability to care for ourselves effectively. Our thoughts and emotions play a crucial role in determining our adherence to self-care routines, our outlook on health, and our capacity for healing.

Healthcare professionals, while skilled in addressing physiological issues, may not always have the expertise to support patients with mental health challenges. This gap highlights the importance of integrating mental health support into overall healthcare practices. At the core of our approach is the recognition that stress is a common factor in many health conditions, from diabetes to cardiovascular issues. By providing tools and support for stress management and cognitive reframing, we aim to reduce inflammation, regulate the nervous system, and ultimately contribute to improving overall health outcomes in our society.

Based on your research or experience, how exactly does self-care impact our mental wellness?

Self-care is directly correlated with our mental well-being. As soon as we start implementing any type of self-care regimen, whether it’s improving sleep hygiene, changing our diet, learning relaxation techniques, undertaking an exercise regimen, or practicing yoga or meditation, we immediately begin to shift our attention back to ourselves as whole beings — mind, body, and emotions. By recognizing ourselves as whole persons, we can prioritize what’s important and learn to slow down, taking the time we need for our healing journey.

Can you please share your “Top Five Self-care Practices That Each Of Us Can Use To Improve Our Mental Wellness”?

Sure! Here are my top five self-care practices that everyone can use to improve our mental wellness:

• - Establish a Daily Routine: Begin your day with a morning routine and end it with an evening routine. This structured approach can help you set the tone for the day ahead and wind down effectively for better sleep. By prioritizing self-care in the morning and evening, you can better navigate the challenges of the day with a sense of groundedness and preparedness.
• - Practice Mindful Breathing Throughout the Day: Whenever you feel stressed, overwhelmed, or faced with conflict, take a moment to focus on your breath. Simply observing your breath without trying to change it can naturally slow you down and reconnect you with your inner calm and resilience. Developing a mindful breathing practice can help you cultivate self-awareness and better manage your emotional responses.
• - Build a Strong Social Support System: Surround yourself with a supportive network of friends and loved ones whom you trust and can confide in. Research, such as the case of Roseto, described in the Malcolm Gladwell book, suggests that having close ties can serve as a powerful buffer against stress. Regularly connecting with supportive people can significantly reduce tension and stress levels, enhancing your overall well-being.
• - Incorporate Regular Exercise into Your Routine: Engaging in regular physical activity not only benefits your physical health but also has profound effects on your mental well-being. Exercise stimulates the release of endorphins, which promote feelings of relaxation and positivity, subsequently boosting self-esteem. Studies of Blue Zones, where people live longer than average, highlight the importance of physical activity in promoting longevity and happiness.
• - Prioritize Adequate Sleep: Ensure you prioritize sufficient and quality sleep as part of your self-care routine. Sleep plays a crucial role in regulating mood, cognition, and overall mental health. Establishing a consistent sleep schedule and creating a conducive sleep environment can significantly contribute to improved mental wellness and resilience against stress.

By incorporating these self-care practices into your daily life, you can enhance your mental wellness and cultivate greater resilience to navigate life’s challenges with grace and ease.

Can you please share a few of the main roadblocks that prevent people from making better self-care choices? What would you suggest can be done to overcome those roadblocks?

The two biggest roadblocks to self-care are not recognizing that you need to take care of your physical or mental health, and taking the active steps to get started. Self-care is a habit, it needs to be done in small amounts regularly or you’ll end up with burn out or worse.

In one sentence, what would you say to someone who doesn’t prioritize their mental well-being?

“Why don’t you take a minute to breathe with me?”

Thank you for all that great insight! Let’s start wrapping up. Can you share your favorite “Life Lesson Quote”? Why does this quote resonate with you so much?

“No matter where you go, there you are.” Buckaroo Bonzai and his Adventures in the 6th Dimension. It completely sums up present moment awareness.

We are very blessed that some of the biggest names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world or in the US whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch with, and why? They might just see this, especially if we both tag them :-)

I wouldn’t mind having breakfast with Nick Jonas. He is one of the most visible people in the world with Type 1 Diabetes, and I’d love to demo our Breathing App for Diabetes to him. Over oatmeal with protein powder.

I truly appreciate your time and valuable contribution. One last question. How can our readers best reach or follow you?

I am easily contacted at eddiestern@me.com and can be found on IG @eddiestern.

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.

About The Interviewer: Maria Angelova, MBA is a disruptor, author, motivational speaker, body-mind expert, Pilates teacher and founder and CEO of Rebellious Intl. As a disruptor, Maria is on a mission to change the face of the wellness industry by shifting the self-care mindset for consumers and providers alike. As a mind-body coach, Maria’s superpower is alignment which helps clients create a strong body and a calm mind so they can live a life of freedom, happiness and fulfillment. Prior to founding Rebellious Intl, Maria was a Finance Director and a professional with 17+ years of progressive corporate experience in the Telecommunications, Finance, and Insurance industries. Born in Bulgaria, Maria moved to the United States in 1992. She graduated summa cum laude from both Georgia State University (MBA, Finance) and the University of Georgia (BBA, Finance). Maria’s favorite job is being a mom. Maria enjoys learning, coaching, creating authentic connections, working out, Latin dancing, traveling, and spending time with her tribe. To contact Maria, email her at angelova@rebellious-intl.com. To schedule a free consultation, click here.