WHAT IS STRESS?
These days you can’t turn on the television or the radio, or pick up a newspaper or a magazine without someone going on about Stress. And if they are not directly talking about Stress, maybe they are giving you some information that is likely to get you stressed – the failing global economy, wars and terrorism, climate challenges, your sports team’s poor results..., etc., etc.
We live in a stressful era, possibly the most stressful period humans have ever experienced. It is the biggest issue that modern Humans has to deal with and the biggest cause of illness some of which even lead to death. It is the issue that costs companies’ and our economies billions.
So what is stress - Stress is the body and minds response to a demand for change. It's the emotional and physical way in which we respond to pressure. Stress affects us all differently and its almost impossible to live without some form of stress in our lives. There is good stress and bad stress. Good stress is winning a race or election, a passionate kiss and contemplating what might follow is stressful. But bad stress is chronic stress, when it takes over your everyday life and your body seems to feed off of the stress. This is bad as this cannot only age you quicker externally but also externally and mess with your bodies natural functions and lower you immune system which can lead to disease. Over 90% of illness is stress related and Im seeing it more and more in the clients that I see in my Henley Consultation Room
Even though we can all relate to stress, being something we have all had an experience of and most of us are concerned about, most of us do not really understand what it is and are ill equipped to recognise it or take steps to minimise the negative effects of stress.
A stressful life can…
Make you sick
Cause you pain
Shortens your life
Decrease your quality of life
Make you age much quicker
Live more-by Stressing less! With Positive Stress
Yes, you heard it right positive stress-it is part and parcel of our life and you can’t run away from stress. The best way is to work with it not against it-like our ancestors used to do without affecting our whole Endocrine system.
It is important to have a “ME” time, just for yourself everyday 15-20 minutes and evaluate the whole day. Have thoughts of compassionate, forgiveness, love and appreciation for other. Practise Meditation and Relaxing breathing techniques.
Links between stress and poor health include:
Allergies
Asthma
Colitis
Constipation
Depression
Diabetes mellitus
Hay fever
Heart attack
High blood pressure
Indigestion
Menstrual difficulties
Migraine
Overactive thyroid gland
Peptic ulcers
Rheumatoid arthritis
Skin Disorder
Tuberculosis
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Answer the questions below as honestly as you can in a note book and become aware of where stress is affecting you and how:
Q & A
How would you rate Stress in your day-to-day life?
High
Moderate
Low
Is Stress affecting your Personal, social & Relationship?
Yes
No
Never noticed
I manage it well
How are your Sleep patterns?
Good
Bad
Moderate
My Hormones all over the place.
Sometimes
All the time
Don’t know what causes it?
Do you find difficult getting up in the morning?
Yes
Never
Sometimes
I have to push myself
Do you get frequent ill health, cold and flu and any infection?
Never
Yes
Sometimes
Occasionally
Do you have sugar imbalance and cravings?
Yes
No
All the time
Only at certain times in a day.
Do you take any prescribed medicine, like antidepressesent?
Yes
Never
Taken in the past
Do you take any Herbal and Natural supplements?
Yes
No
Have tried in past
Do you want to know about food, which effects the mood and relaxing techniques like Meditation and Mindfulness?
Yes, sure
Not sure
Have tried in past
Want to learn more
There are many ways in which you can help your stress levels and to bring more calm to your life by just being aware of your bodies reactions to stress and acknowledging it and finding ways to manage it.
Like learning how stress affects the mind and body
How to identify the warning signs of stress
And how to develop good stress management skills and techniques to make life easier to manage.
A recent study indicated that stress management programs may reduce the risk of heart problems, heart attacks by up to 75 percent in people with heart disease.
Ways to manage stress
Get more Humour in your life - watch funny movies, watch or listen to a funny comedian's routine or share some time with a humorous friend can all provide a psychological lift and help to relieve stress. Laughing releases tension in the muscles and helps a person maintain perspective on the situation/s.
Having regular leisure activities like gardening, painting, bicycling, photography and many others including Yoga that bring you happiness and enjoyment in doing the hobbies rather than obtaining the results. Just having fun should help you feel more relaxed and happier.
Meditating as much as you can, can help to create a relaxed body and mind and help reduce heart rate, blood pressure and adrenaline levels. Meditation helps you to disconnect to whatever is going on around you or what ever has happened and gives you time to breath and to have time for yourself to just sit, relax and let go or tension, pain and worry and allows you to focus on yourself within or a sound or an image.
Massage Therapy - Is the gentle practice of manipulating the bodies tissues in order to soothe and to heal. Its one of the most ancient healing arts, and is more popular than ever to help people of today for its natural drug-free relief from the effects of a busy mind, overstressed lives that we lead. It can relax the entire body and mind and can provide healing and energy that the body so desperately needs to continue functioning at its best. I can reduce heart rate, lowers blood pressure, increases circulation and lymphatic flow, relaxes muscles, increases production of endorphins, which are your bodies own natural painkillers.
Book a Stress Management Session with Kelly at Pure Bliss in Henley-On-Thames to help you to learn new techniques that can help you to manage stress in your life. Call Kelly today to book a consultation on 07599 884213 and start making positive changes in your life.
Or visit me at my website at www.rsnutrition.co.uk to find out more on Meditation, Reflexology and how healthy eating can also help to manage stress. See you there.
To Your On-going Health And Wellbeing.
Ravi Singh
Nutritionist
Qualified Chef
Reflexologist
Meditation Teacher and Healthy Retreats and Healthy Home Cooking
Helping You To Live A Healthier Life