|
The stress test
The toll that stress takes on our lives is the
result of how we react to it and manage stress, seeing that it is an
everyday aspect of our lives. Great amounts of stress can lead to
things like back pain, headaches, raised blood pressure, indigestion, sweating, palpitations, irritability and anxiety.
Stress is also the cause of the development of diseases
like cold sores, ulcers, and off course heart disease. Take the following stress test to see if stress is causing you problems and if so, read on to learn how to manage the stress in your life.
The Stress Test
Let's look at some of the factors that are symptoms of stress:
1. You are overwhelmed when you can't do everything
you set out to do
2. You are exhausted
3. You avoid exercise
4. You are often irritated with others
5. People tell you
that you often make a “big deal” of things
6. You tend to
“bottle up” your emotions, keeping everything inside
7. You
have difficulty falling and staying asleep at night
8. It's
either your way or the highway
9. You spend a lot of time complaining about
yourself
10. You set unrealistic goals for yourself and for
others
11. You frequently put off big projects or decisions
until the last moment
12. Your diet is not up to scratch
13. You have difficulty making decisions
14.
You lose control of your emotions
15. You fail to see humor
in situations that most other people find funny
16. You
frequently feel disorganized and anxious
17. You avoid making positive connections with
others
18. You frequently get angry when you are kept
waiting
|
|
The stress test continues: Are you one
of many who has also answered yes to more than one of the above
questions? If that's the case, you may have trouble handling the amount of stress that occurs in your life.
Because stress is an inevitable and normal part of life, one can't prevent it completely, but
only learn ways to control and ease stress so that it does not take over your life.
After doing the stress test, take a look at the
following Stress Management Techniques:
Physical Exercises: Yoga, relaxation techniques, pilates, dance therapy, and general exercise help to relive the buildup of stress hormones in the body and help to promote a general relaxation of the nervous system. Physical exercises also help to integrate the mind and body, relieve muscle tension and improve physical function.
Mental Exercises: Meditation, guided imagery, art, music, and other mental exercises are a useful way to reduce stress and promote relaxation in your life.
Relaxation Techniques:
Slow, diaphragmatic breathing and conscious muscle relaxation can help to manage stress by calming the body and clearing the mind of stressors.
Social Supports:
Sometimes, all it takes to relieve stress in your life is to talk about the stressor with a close friend or family member. Pet therapy has also been reported to relieve stress!
Dietary Changes:
Stress suppresses the immune system and can cause or aggravate such conditions as heart disease and ulcers. Dietary changes, such as reducing coffee and other caffeinated beverages can reduce the jitters, restlessness, anxiety, and insomnia that might magnify the effects of stress. Also
use whole grains to promote production of the brain neurotransmitter serotonin for a greater sense of well being.
Herbs:
There are many natural supplements that can be used to elevate the mood and help you relax. St. John's Wort, SAM-E, Lithium Orotate and marijuana are all popular herbs that are useful in relieving stress. Herbs known as adaptogens, such as include Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus), ginseng (Panax ginseng), wild yam (Dioscorea villosa), borage (Borago officinalis), licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra), chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile), milk thistle (Silybum marianum), and nettle (Urtica dioica) may also help to alleviate stress.
Aromatherapy:
Essential oils of lavender, chamomile, geranium, rose, neroli, sweet marjoram, and ylang-ylang are commonly recommended for stress relief. They help to reduce anxiety and tension and can be used in massage, added to a bath, or inhaled through a vaporizer.
|
You can also treat stress with
the following: Acupuncture - Stress causes tension that disrupts the flow of the qi. Acupuncture can help to restore harmony and induce a state of deep relaxation.
Massage
- A regular massage in which the practitioner uses such techniques as
rubbing, kneading, and pummeling, can be very beneficial in the
management of stress. It can help to increase blood circulation, reduce
pain, and relieve muscle tension. Massage also helps to release
endorphins, substances that have a mood-enhancing effect.
Natural Medication
- If stress is affecting your health, you may wish to see your natural health care provider to determine whether or not a specific herb may be helpful in relieving stress.
Last but not least, cognitive therapy helps people reduce the amount of stress they
are experiencing in their lives by teaching them how to reframe or
mentally reinterpret the stressors that are causing these problems.
Don't delay, do the stress test today and get to the bottom of your
stress related problem.
|
