Stress Reducing 101
July 29, 2008
Stress and worry many times comes in the form that something in life is changing, or needs to change and hasn?t yet. Sometimes change is so hard to embrace, but sometimes it is the best thing ever. Some changes are definitely negative, but we really have no choice over the matter and must simply learn to adapt.
There are many events, situations and things that cause stress. For many of us it is money worries, work and family life issues that cause us the greatest amount of stress. Health is another topic that can cause stress, especially for people that have chronic conditions, medications to buy and testing that needs to be done. Common symptoms stress has on our bodies?
While it is virtually impossible and unhealthy to live a stress free life, see there is good stress that we actually need to function properly, there is also bad stress that we need to minimize and deal with effectively to live a healthy life. Stress is not something that should be pushed aside to be dealt with later. These aren?t things that we can just internalize and think they will go away. Stress can have a profound impact on our health.
The longer the stress goes on though you may begin to experience more health problems such as depression, diabetes, heart disease, hair loss, hyperthyroidism, OCD or anxiety disorders, tooth and gum disease, sexual dysfunction, obesity, ulcers, fatigue and lethargy, difficulty sleeping and possibly death at the most extreme end. Suggestions of things that can be done to combat stress:
There are a number of things you can do that can help you deal with stress. Part of it is dealing with the situation causing the stress, if you can. If you realize it’s something beyond your control, simply letting go of trying to gain control will be stress relieving. Sometimes it means confronting the situation head on, and sometimes to means to put it on a shelf to deal with soon, but don’t procrastinate too long and that only delays the stress itself.
Quiet time and deep breathing can also help soothe jangled nerves. Perhaps taking a powerful nap would be very restorative. Turn off the cell phone, music, TV, computer and other noise making items. Sometimes we just need quiet.
Listen to soothing music and take a hot bath with a beautifully scented candle. The soothing music will help you calm your mind and the hot bath will help release the tension from your body. The fragrance helps to relax as well.
You can also create a gratitude book. Naturally do this when you aren’t stressed and use it when you are. In the gratitude book you are going to write the things in your life that you are thankful for. This can be as simple as the fact you are able to get up and live another day, that you are able to take a breath on your own and so on.
Try to eat healthy, organic foods and drink plenty of fresh water. Get rid of the junk foods as they only provide temporary comfort, but longer term leave you feeling lousy.
Spend time with a pet. If you don’t have one, see if you can spend some time with a friend’s, or perhaps consider getting one if you can.
Talk a leisure walk outside, especially if you can find a beautiful quiet area to walk. Exercise is a wonderful tool. Sometimes a good run or a round of aerobics or something else that will get your heart rate up can really help get the tension out of the body.
Spend time with a pet. If you don’t have one, see if you can spend some time with a friend’s, or perhaps consider getting one if you can.
Read a great book and curl up with a cup of chamomile tea.
Write in a journal, sometimes getting your thoughts and anxieties on paper help diminish the power of those anxieties.
Don’t let stress ruin your health or your life. Take action today to help you live a more satisfying and less tension filled life.
Try to stop obsessing the problem over and over and over in your head. Try to turn off that old tape. If at all possible take a vacation, or even just a mini get away if you can, to get a fresh perspective. It could lead to the change that is just what you needed to get over the crisis point.
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