You can be doing everything right and stress will still kill you!
Our bodies do not know if we are stressed because we are sitting in traffic, dealing with a difficult boss or co-worker, or if we are dealing with a war or a famine.
Our bodies are also smart and will prepare us for dealing with stress in the long-term.
To do that, it releases stress hormones. One of the most common ones is cortisol. Cortisol helps us hold on to excess weight, raises our blood sugar to help us have the energy to prepare for action, keeps us awake at night so that we are aware of what is happening in case we have to run, and causes us to be constipated because, after all, if we need to run away, we can’t be caught with our pants down!
When we are chronically stressed, no matter how nutrient-dense our diet is or how much we prioritize sleep, we will remain sick, fat, and tired, unless we address stress.
I recently asked people on Facebook what they do to deal with stress and the response was incredible! There were a lot of good suggestions and I would like to share them with you:
- Exercise
This was probably the number one way people deal with stress. Exercise ranged from formal classes, such as qi gong, yoga, and pilates to turning on some music and dancing to shift the energy. My personal favorite suggestion was watching Snoopy dance. I know that always brings a smile to my face, but, even more fun, how about imitating Snoopy with your own fabulous dance moves!
- Get Out In Nature
This was a close second to exercising and, of course, the two can be closely tied together. Many people enjoy hiking or walking in the woods, walking on the beach, or kayaking.
Nature is an amazing healer and, when we are out in nature, we are naturally exposed to negative ions. Negative ions have been shown to cause a chemical shift in our bodies that helps us feel less anxious and depressed so, the next time you are down, go outside. And, if it raining, so what? Throw on a raincoat. As I tell my kids, you won’t melt.
- Meditate
Meditation was in the top three ways to alleviate stress. When I worked in the conventional medical world, I would take my phone into the bathroom and do a quick guided meditation from an app called Headspace. They have meditation apps that last from a few minutes to over an hour.
Meditation does not need to be guided or, even, still. There are lots of activities that are meditative. They may include a walking meditation, knitting, gratitude journaling, or even coloring. So, the next time you are stressed, pull out your kids coloring books or treat yourself to one of your own!
- Sleep
Many people said that they take a nap when they are stressed. Some people need a nap when they are stressed because those stress hormones may have kept them from getting a good night’s sleep and being tired does not help when you are dealing with a stressful situation.
Sleep is the time when our body heals, processes toxins, and helps us sort out what is going on in our life.
- Emotional Freedom Technique
Also known as EFT, this is a method of self-soothing that involves tapping on different meridian points on the body. EFT is just starting to come into use in conventional medicine but alternative practitioners have know for a while that simply tapping on the different points of the body helps to relieve stress. And, the best part, you can discretely do it anywhere!
Read this article, if you are looking for more information about EFT and how it can help:
- Take time for yourself
Women in general, tend to have a hard time saying, “No.” Boundaries need to be created that give you time and space to recharge your batteries. That might mean being clear about your days off with work, enlisting the help of your family with cleaning and preparing meals, or hiring someone to shop for you or clean your house.
By taking time for yourself, you create time for self-care. What does that look like for you? Perhaps getting a massage. Maybe crawling into a cozy corner with a fun book. For some, it can involve a good cry.
Whatever it looks like, be sure to schedule some time for self-care into your daily routine. This is critical to help control stress.
- Pets
If you have pets, you know that they can be the best teachers. They eat, sleep, play, and just want unconditional love. Plus, they make us laugh on a regular basis. My son recently sent me a picture of his kitten sitting in his water bowl to get a drink. (I hope that made you laugh! It did me.)
Take time every day to sit with and play with your pet whether it is a dog, cat, guinea pig, or something else.
- Breathing
Did you know that you could reset your stress hormones simply by breathing?
When we get stressed, we tend to hold our breath. Next time you are stressed, simply bring your attention to your breath, as my yoga teacher likes to say. Slow down your breath and breathe deeply. As you focus, make your exhale longer than your inhale.
There are, of course, other ways to decrease your stress. One way is to relax in a salt room, like the one at Just Breathe, and simply disconnect from the world. It’s such a great feeling.
I hope these tips were useful. Please, share this with someone who may benefit.
