Stress

Stress has been a vital evolutionary strategy that has helped us survive. However, in the modern world it all too often manifests itself inappropriately. We often talk of the stresses of modern life, perhaps a recognition that our lives might not be in balance.

Under stress our bodies release chemical messengers such as adrenaline and cortisol, as in the "fight/flight/freeze" response. We react as if under threat, even if it is running late for a meeting, or dealing with financial problems. We experience symptoms such as rapid heart rate and breathing, sweating and dry mouth as our bodies prepare for optimum performance. Our heart is pumping blood to our extremities in preparation for physical activity, but also pushing more blood from the areas of our brains that govern cognitive function to the areas governing physical activity. Yes, under stress we become a little more stupid!

Long term stress can have debilitating effects and can compromise our immune system, leaving us more vulnerable to illness. We can look at your lifestyle, identify your stressors and work out the optimum way to reduce your stress and manage it more effectively.

Stress Tips.

Here are a few ideas for reducing stress:
Take an objective look at your lifestyle, how healthy and balanced is it?

Join a class such as yoga, tai chi, chi gung or meditation. Exercise can help too.

Have you tried a floatation tank? Not for the claustrophobic, but very relaxing for some.

Do you have enough “me time” built into your routine?

How much time do you spend doing things that really give you pleasure?

Every hour or so, take a few moments to check yourself. How am I feeling, how tense is my body?

Try to spend a few minutes each day in a quiet space, without the constant stream of stimulation that is all around us. In other words, get to know yourself.

We have 24 hour news, papers, radio, internet, even news sent to our mobiles. Have you considered reducing your exposure?

Identify your main stress triggers, make changes or learn good coping strategies such as EFT, breathing techniques, mindfulness or self hypnosis.

Catching stress early and having ways to manage it are crucial. Learn to recognise the signs, such as:
Headaches
Disorderly eating
Low sex drive
Irritability
Poor sleep
Exhaustion
Low energy
Poor motivation
Difficulty concentrating
Increased emotional responses
Increased alcohol or substance use
Mood swings
Negative feelings/low mood
Digestive disorders
Muscle pain

Prevention is better than cure!