|
Stress-related illnesses are at
an all time high in America, and there is no sign it will lessen. For
the most part, doctors have identified the basic cause of this to be our
“seriousness”. By that they mean taking ourselves too seriously, thus
causing so much pressure that any meaningful stress management is
impossible. When things are beyond our power to solve, we must drop the
ball; not easy for non-quitters.
Unhealthy levels of stress show
as mood changes, migraines, hair loss, worry, agitation, sleeplessness,
weight gain and the more serious level; depression. Stress contributes
to half of all illnesses in the U.S. and 70% of all visits to the
doctor’s office. But before you see your doctor to ask if Valium is
right for you – let’s consider some natural options.
Laughter is an antidote to
stress. When we laugh, blood flow to the brain is increased and
endorphins (that hormone that gives us a sense of well-being) are
released and levels of stress drop dramatically. We can begin this
healing by laughing at our own selves, our perfect imperfection that
makes up all of us.
Force yourself to be more
sociable because under stress our instincts tell us to withdraw and
isolate ourselves. Nothing could be worse according to stress experts.
Isolation allows us to concentrate on our problems, which perpetuates
negative thinking – instead of resolving it, we intensify it. When you
feel stressed to the max, call a friend or put yourself among children;
they have a way of making anyone forget their worries. Volunteer work
is a good stress-buster.
Indecisiveness can intensify
stress, so we must learn to be more assertive. Some may associate
assertiveness with hostility or aggression, but we simply mean
expressing your feelings, letting others know your opinions and acting
on your own behalf. Some things we can practice are: speaking up when
you feel it’s warranted… initiate conversations… make an effort to seek
out and form new friendships. Don’t be afraid to disagree. Give out
and accept – compliments. Ask for information.
When trying to break the
sleeplessness cycle, avoid alcohol, caffeine and tobacco – all of which
have negative effects on sleep. Do something calming before bed; a warm
bath, soft music, scented candles. Talk positively to yourself and pat
yourself on the back now and then for a job well-done. Then give
yourself a reward because when you do that you will realize a boost in
your immune system that can last for several days. This can be a pair
of shoes or as simple as a dish of ice cream (or both)!
Slowing down nearly everything
in your life is another stress reliever. Holistic studies have taught
me to stop running for the phone when it rings – why did I always do
that? I now concentrate on driving slower, pausing after I park the car
in the garage just to relax as I ease into another transition. I don’t
hurry my meals, but chew more slowly and with all of this you can feel
the stress ebb away.
Also, write down those nagging
problems. Make two columns on the paper: one “Worries I can do
something about” and the other “Worries I can’t do anything about”.
Reading these from your notes offers another dimension and you can begin
to accept the ones you can’t change, and go about finding solutions for
those you can.
One doctor’s research of 480
people under stressful conditions found that, “… the top stress reducers
are dogs”. People who were facing unbearable situations had the lowest
heart rates and blood pressure if they were with their dogs – even lower
than those who were with the spouses. Possible reason: Dogs are
perceived as completely nonjudgmental.
2006 Esther Smith
About
the Author: Smith has published numerous articles and writes a blog for
all artists:
http://the-self-taught-artist.com/blog.html
She also coaches new students on how to leave the time-for-money trap and set up
Leveraged Income for life.
http://thepermanentventure.com/dcc.htm If you can’t sing or ride a
bull, you better learn how to make your money work for more money.
|