Every May, Mental Health Month invites us to reflect on the emotional state of society and how it influences every aspect of life. For those of us working in the development of health solutions, this is a strategic opportunity to pause and listen: What do people truly need to feel better? How can we bring value through formulation?
This article explores three key dimensions of emotional discomfort in today’s world: stress, anxiety, and sleep.
🧠 Stress: a chronic state requiring new strategies
Chronic stress is no longer an occasional response, it has become a baseline condition affecting millions globally. A 2021 international study found that 35% of adults reported high perceived stress levels (Sibley et al., 2021).
Persistent stress activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and disrupts hormonal, immune, and metabolic balance (McEwen, 2007). Understanding these physiological pathways is essential for designing effective and targeted interventions from nutrition and botanical supplementation.
🧠 Anxiety: the invisible weight with real consequences
Anxiety disorders affect more hundreds of millions of people worldwide, making them the most prevalent mental health condition globally (GBD 2019). Though often invisible, their effects are tangible: reduced focus, physical tension, impaired digestion, and lowered quality of life.
Neuroscientific research links anxiety to overactivity in the amygdala, reduced GABAergic signaling, and imbalances in serotonergic pathways (Ressler & Nemeroff, 2000). These insights have sparked growing interest in gentle, non-sedative approaches that support occasional anxiety and promote emotional resilience.
🧠 Sleep: the overlooked regulator of emotional health
Sleep disturbances and insomnia affect 10–30% of the general population at some point, with up to 10% experiencing chronic insomnia (Bhaskar et al., 2016). Sleep deprivation not only impairs daily functioning but also increases the risk of mood imbalance and cognitive decline.
We now know that sleep is not a passive process, it plays an active role in neuroplasticity, emotional memory consolidation, and metabolic detoxification via the glymphatic system (Xie et al., 2013). Addressing sleep as a core aspect of mental well-being is no longer optional in modern formulation strategy.
🔬 Applied science: our commitment as formulation partners
At Pharmactive, we’ve spent years researching the intersection between emotional health, neurobiology, and clinical phytotherapy. This has led to the development of solutions such as Affron®, a high-purity saffron extract supported by over 10 human clinical studies focused on occasional stress, low mood, and sleep quality.
In one recent placebo-controlled trial, perimenopausal women taking Affron® for 12 weeks experienced significant improvements in low mood and occasional stress, without undesirable hormonal effects (Lopresti et al., 2022).
Beyond the ingredient itself, our role as formulation partners is to share knowledge, science, and a holistic view of emotional well-being. Because understanding comes first, only then can we formulate with purpose.
📚 REFERENCES
-
Sibley CG, et al. PLoS One. 2021;16(10):e0257059.
-
McEwen BS. Eur J Pharmacol. 2008;583(2-3):174–85.
-
Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. GBD 2019. Lancet. 2020;396(10258):1204–1222.
-
Ressler KJ, Nemeroff CB. Depress Anxiety. 2000;12 Suppl 1:2–19.
-
Bhaskar S, et al. J Fam Med Prim Care. 2016;5(4):780–784.
-
Xie L, et al. Science. 2013;342(6156):373–377.
-
Lopresti AL, Smith SJ. J Menopausal Med. 2022;28(3):145–152.
