Local biz helps White Plains residents cope with new challenges

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Ask anyone to characterize 2022 and you’ll hear a lot of words. The nicest way to describe it is “chaotic,” according to longtime resident Maria Jones.

Last year, Westchester County encouraged residents to ‘Stay Strong“ in a mental-health campaign created to help recognize pandemic-related stressors and steer residents to local resources.

Although the effort helped, residents like Jones report that more stubborn stressors linger unabated by time.

This year’s holiday season may compound pressures making for a “Chaotic Christmas” or Hazardous Hanukkah” in many households, according to health experts. They report continued health concerns—coupled with escalated worries about the nation’s weak economy, housing, food and fuel costs—are driving increased rates of anxiety, insomnia and, in some cases, depression.

This year, more people are dreading the upcoming holidays, according to a LendingTree survey, which touts the anticipated costs of presents and festivities among major concerns.

Everything may feel like it is becoming more of a challenge, according to local Your CBD Store business owners Jose and Yvette Sanchez. They are stepping up their support of White Plains residents with a planned series of educational sessions focused on helpful hacks on sleep, relaxation and recovery-related issues.

No one is invisible to stress, nor is it invisible, according to the October 2022 Stress in America poll which reveals a “battered American psyche,” facing an inordinate amount of external stressors that are mostly out of personal control.

More than 27% of people report that on any given day, they are so stressed that it’s difficult to function, according to the poll conducted for the American Psychological Association.

TAKING BACK CONTROL

Self-care is essential and should be a part of everyone’s daily routine, according to the Sanchezes, who have navigated through challenging times. This includes Yvette’s breast cancer journey, which began in 2009, to more recent trials associated with juggling pandemic parenting pressures while coping with the overwhelming challenges of a pandemic small business start.

Although his corporate experience in operations and Human Resources uniquely prepared Jose for many difficult tasks, his innate compassion has been a constant—and something his customers have come to rely upon.

Together, with Yvette’s project management and Diversity and Inclusion background as well as her inherent communications skills, the pair are a dynamic duo who use their combined resources to support community good.

“We hope that local residents here will come to recognize our Your CBD Store as a community resource and oasis,” says Yvette, whose mission is a deeply personal one.

“Recovery is too painful a process to undertake alone,” Yvette says. “Although each one of us has hidden resilience, it’s far more powerful when coupled with a cadre of community of supporters behind you.”

Although Yvette acknowledges that many uncontrollable stressors exist in communities like White Plains, she also sees the profound difference that positive, proactive and wholistic interventions have on community health.

As our everyday challenges continue to rise throughout this holiday season, it’s more important than ever that local residents counter them with better quality sleep and more effective coping mechanisms, according to Yvette, who is a Pace University alumna and spent much of her professional life in New York City.

“I know how challenging it can be to balance a career, family and self-care,” says Yvette. “And I bring that firsthand understanding to my Your CBD Store customers every day. It’s an empowering experience that gives me a great sense of purpose.”

MAKE-UP SLEEP IS A MYTH

An Ocere Study on pandemic-related sleep trends revealed, on average, New York residents lost nearly four hours of sleep nightly (25.1 hours weekly) as a result of the pandemic.

Many never caught up, according to Yvette, who says that sleep is not a renewable resource.

“It’s not a commodity. Sleeping in a few extra weekends or catching more cat naps is not as restorative as many may think,” Yvette says.

Sleep experts become concerned when three or more episodes of sleeplessness are reported over a month-long period. At this point, the experts give the condition a more formal label of insomnia.

Nearly 60% of Your CBD Store’s national customer base says sleep is their number one concern, according to its business owners.

The pair say that their location, which sits in close proximity to many physical therapy and medical centers, also draws a significant number of customers looking for recovery products.

A growing portion of the nation’s CBD customers are referred by licensed physicians, like UM Health System’s Director of Chronic Pain and Fatigue Research Center Dr. Daniel Clauw, according to industry reports.

Right now, CBD appears to be fairly safe and might help certain types of pain, according to the researcher who helped head an Arthritis Foundation supported review of CBD in 2019.

“People are undergoing an awakening,” says Yvette. “They want to be seen and heard by the professionals that care for them. They ask questions and want to be educated when they come into our store. We are proud to provide a ‘safe space’ for our customers.”

SAFEGUARDING SLEEP

“Something as essential to our overall health and well-being as sleep deserves protection,” says Jose Sanchez, who worked in White Plains in past professional roles and is delighted to return as a small business owner.

Health experts recommend practicing preventative methods and, if more serious sleep issues develop, to address them before they become a chronic condition.

Stress and sleep are interrelated. Increased stressors tend to decrease sleep. Likewise decreased sleep tends to increase stress levels.

It’s a vicious cycle, according to the entrepreneur, who says it’s not surprising that SUNMED’s scientifically tested Sleep Gummies with CBN are the store’s most popular product line.

Sales of relaxing bath bombs and soaks are up as well, in addition to SUNMED’s award-winning tinctures and topicals, which are endorsed by the American Pickleball Association.

“Bottom line, it’s all about restoring balance,” Jose says. “Our CBD experts are committed to helping White Plain residents discover helpful hacks to achieve everyday calm and restore their inherent sense of resilience.”

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