Special Edition: Staying Grounded in Uncertain Times Practical Tools to Manage Stress During Geopolitical Tension

When your world feels uncertain, your nervous system does not wait for permission. It reacts. So how do steady we steady ourselves when things seem out of our control? 

In this ConnectForHealth Special Edition, Scott Armstrong, founder of mentl, and co-host Alison Sharp, of Cigna Healthcare Middle East and Africa. are joined by Dr Joseph R. El-Khoury, Consultant Adult and Addiction Psychiatrist and Co-founder and Medical Director of Valens Clinic in the UAE.

This session is shaped by what many across the GCC and here in the UAE have been living through during heightened geopolitical tension. Even when we are physically safe, the nervous system can still react to uncertainty, constant updates, and triggers like sudden loud sounds.

We cover practical, usable tools including:

• What is happening in the body and brain when you feel on edge
• Why sudden sounds can trigger the stress response
• How past trauma can resurface during crisis
• Finding the small part you can control (routines, boundaries, communication)
• Sleep protection during periods of heightened alertness
• Audience Q&A, including support for family and children

If you want practical, calm tools you can use today, plus honest answers to real audience questions, this is for you.