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S
t r e s s B u s t i n g
Your
temple needs care...
What is your body doing?
The biochemistry of the
stress response:
Some people handle stress
well. Others can be adversely affected by it, suffering from such symptoms
as fatigue, teeth grinding, Trans Mandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ), loss of
appetite, skin disorders, low sex drive, low self esteem, cold hands,
shallow breathing, constipation, high blood pressure, insomnia,
depression, and the list goes on.
While stress is often
viewed as mental or psychological, it has very real physical effects. The
body responds to stress with a series of "fight or flight"
biochemical changes including:
-
Increased secretion of
adrenaline.
-
Elevated blood
pressure.
-
Activation of
secretion of cortisol
(the
immune-suppressing hormone).
-
Accelerated heart
beat.
-
Muscle tension.
-
Slow or sluggish
digestion.
(The
body does not absorb nutrients well under stress. Such disorders as
bleeding ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome are not uncommon with
either long term or acute stress).
-
Increased secretion on
blood sugar
and blood fat resulting in negative cholesterol.
-
Shrinkage of the
Thymus gland
caused by stress and trauma. This is the gland that is
responsible for regulating our immune system and our T-cell counts.
When this decreases, so does our ability to easily fight off illness.
All of the "fight
or flight" biochemical changes mentioned above, are meant for
situations when we are presented with imminent danger. But today, most of
our stresses are not the result of physical threats, but the body still
responds as if we were in the middle of a physical threat. We have the
instinct to run or to fight, but we don’t do either. We can’t scream at
the top of our lungs at the office, we can’t punch out our friend, boss
or whomever - so
what we don’t express, we repress. It all becomes lodged in the body in
the form of energetic and physical blockages.
Key
Vitamins for Stress Busting
Many of the disorders
that arise from stress are the result of nutritional deficiencies.
Below is a list of some of the key vitamins for stress busting:
-
B complex :
100mg daily for healthy nervous system.
-
Vitamin C
with bioflavanoids: 3000mg -10000 mg daily. Essential to adrenal
gland function. Stress depletes the adrenal gland hormones, and the anti
stress hormones.
-
L-Lysine :
As directed on label. Good for cold sores which are often are an early
indicator of stress.
(Caution,
do not take longer than 6 months)
-
Vitamin E :
400 iu-600 iu daily with meals. Acts as a powerful immune boost and anti
oxidant.
-
Zinc :
50 mg daily. Good for immune function.
-
Vitamin B6 :
100-400mg daily assists with PMS.
-
Oil of Evening
Primrose:
500mg-2000mg daily assists with PMS, lowers cholesterol and assists with
prevention of hardening of the arteries.
-
A multivitamin
with high enough doses of the full range.
-
Melatonin, a natural
sleep aid for insomnia. Start with 1.5 mg daily taken 2 hours or
less before bedtime and only gradually increase to a maximum of 5 mg
daily of the lesser dose is not working.
Key
Herbs for Stress Busting
:
relaxes the mind as well as the entire body.
Taumeel:
excellent for relaxing the body from trauma or high stress situations.
Contains a variety of calming herbs including Arnica, Belladonna,
Echinacea, and Calendula.
Valerian:
Keeps the nervous system from being overwhelmed. Also a powerful sleep aid
when taken at bedtime and helps ease stress related headaches.
Passionflower :
Extremely calming.
Hops :
Helps to relieve nervousness, restlessness, and decreases the desire for
alcohol.
Chamomile :
A gentle relaxant and good nerve tonic.
Lavender :
Excellent to calm the nervous system when diffused on used in massage. Caution:
Not to be used if pregnant unless in the final few weeks.
More
Tips
Allow yourself to breath in deeply though your nose and exhale very
slowly through your mouth with your tongue placed at the roof of your
mouth next to the gum line. Do this exercise four or five times until
the tension passes.
-
Monitor your internal
self-talk.
The way we talk to ourselves indicates how we feel about our environment
and ourselves. Words have power! Talk to yourself with kindness and
gentleness. Say "Correct and Cancel" when a negative
thought comes into your mind and replace with a positive thought. Fill
your own cup first and give to others from the overflow. Giving of
yourself when you are depleted only causes more stress to you and
others.
-
Affirmations
Repeat these positive
affirmations throughout the day:
The
more I take good care of myself, the more people around me benefit.
All
is well. All is well.
I
accept and approve of myself just the way I am.
I
have faith and confidence in my future. I am secure.
I
am safe. I trust in the process of life.
-
Take a day off and go
on a date with yourself. This kind of leisure activity takes the edge
off of your tension and allows the body to relax.
-
Do not deny or repress
your emotions. This compounds your stress levels. Find a safe person
or environment to share your feelings. Crying is an excellent release
for bottled up emotions.
-
Draw a warm and
soothing bath. Add drops of lavender and chamomile oil. Light some
aromatic candles for a soothing light atmosphere. This is very calming
to the nervous system.
-
Write in a journal.
This allows you to create perspective and provides an opportunity for
learning after the stress has passed.
-
Colours impact how we
feel within our environment. Use shades of blues and violets to create
a peaceful environment.
-
Pursue a hobby. Take
time for yourself and do something that makes you happy. Avoid any
guilt. You deserve to do something good for you.
-
Give yourself extra
time. Avoid rushing around. This only creates more toxic stress
biochemicals in your body.
-
Have relaxing music,
or a book on tape handy for when you are stuck in traffic.
-
Don’t sweat the
small stuff! Stop taking life so seriously. Learn to let go and
laugh.!
-
Meditate
- click here for some help
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