Want to Reduce Your Stress Symptoms?

Have you felt stressed out lately? If you’re a human who is living on Planet Earth right now, I’ll assume that yes, you have. At least a little bit.

Expectations, to-do lists, relationships… we’re all dealing with life’s pressures, and stress symptoms are a part of that.

But is this necessarily a bad thing?

What exactly is Stress?

Stress has gotten a bad reputation in recent years, but there is such a thing as good stress. The problems begin when there is too much of it in your life, or when it is constant over a long period of time. That’s when stress symptoms become too much to handle, and life gets overwhelming.

What we call stress is basically your body’s response to a change in your environment. It causes your systems to react so as to adapt to the new conditions. Unfortunately, when there is too much stress, these reactions can become a problem for your body, as well as your emotions and mental attitude.

So how can stress be good?

When was the last time you were put on the spot? an important exam or a presentation to your colleagues? Stress causes your adrenal glands to start pumping adrenaline into your veins, helping you to focus on whatever is at hand so you can perform at your best.

Caffeine also causes this adrenaline production. It can produce artificial stress symptoms in your body, which when not overdone, can help with mental focus and physical reaction time. This is why coffee and sodas are much loved, and much abused.

Athletes actually rely on stress to help them to perform at their peak after all their preparation, practice, and conditioning. This is the same adrenal reaction that helps people respond with such focus and strength in an emergency.

Who hasn’t heard stories of cars or heavy beams being miraculously lifted off an accident victim by an unlikely rescuer?

Stress is useful in short, limited bursts.

But it becomes dangerous when there is long-term pressure with no relief. And unfortunately, many people are in this exact situation because of a difficult job, busy personal life, or major life changes.

If you’re experiencing symptoms of stress all the time, it will eventually begin affecting your health, and not in a good way. You may experience issues such as

• insomnia
• tension headaches
• depression
• fatigue
• high blood pressure
• weight gain
• anxiety.

These are not tiny problems and shouldn’t be taken lightly.

How much stress is too much?

If you’re starting to have mental, emotional, or physical problems because of stress, obviously, you’ve got too much. But sometimes stress symptoms come on slowly, and it’s hard to tell how bad things have gotten.

Remember the old story about the frog in a boiling pot of water?

Usually stressed out people know they’re under a good bit of pressure, but may not realize its cumulative manifestation.

Finding balance is important. It can help get stress down to a manageable level.

Because really, what’s more valuable than your health?

OK. How?

Things that can help include:

• • shortening your to do list
  • making time for social activities and hobbies
  • exercise
  • wholesome diet
  • quality sleep
  • learning to say “No” sometimes
  • meditation
  • gratitude

.

Even with the best time management skills, stress will come into your life. So it’s important to be able to handle it well when that time comes.

There is plenty you can do on your own to minimize your stress symptoms. Physical activity, good nutrition, good conversation, and many other “healthy” habits can help you to better manage the pressures of modern society.

And if you’d like some help, a Vitality Session may be just the thing. Gentle, non-invasive, a very UN-stressful way to take the pressure off and restore balance.

Your assignment?
Go out and have some fun today!

Photo credit: Crispy by Stephen Poff

How stress and cortisol affect the body

Stress is a normal part of life for everyone, but chronic stress and high cortisol levels can begin to affect not only our psychological well-being, but our physical health as well.

In particular, when cortisol levels are elevated and the body is in constant fight-or-flight mode, it can lead to numerous health problems, some of which can affect weight loss goals such as an increased appetite – specifically for sweet foods – and increased abdominal fat.
(NativeRemedies.com)

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