Your health

EASY & EFFECTIVE WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS

By Dani Duffill

Stress management is a key component to essential health. Staying calm can boost your energy, prevent infections, keep you focused and release tension. Stress is like financial debt - a little is not bad as it motivates you to get things done, but an accumulation of it can become overwhelming and hinder your ability to effectively make decisions.

Follow these stress reducing tips for a more relaxed and happy you.

Breathing Is Relieving: Taking as little as 10 minutes from your day to focus on your breathing will help shift your attention from a stressful situation to your body, allowing you to cope more effectively with the situation.

Short, rapid breathing is usually associated with stress, so the objective is to deliver as much oxygen to the body as possible. There are many effective forms of breathing, but you may want to try breathing slowly and deeply to help relieve built up tension. Focus breathing from your stomach area rather than your chest by placing your hand on your abdomen and feel it rise and fall with each inhalation and exhalation.

Self Perception...Think Positive: Your mental well-being is just as important as your physical health. Louise L. Hay, lecturer and renowned author of "You Can Heal Your Life" believes that the thoughts we think and the words we speak create our experiences. If you're constantly worrying, thinking negative thoughts or criticizing yourself, it will likely lead to unhealthy levels of stress. She further explains how self approval and self acceptance in the NOW are the keys to positive changes. If we are willing to do the mental work, almost anything can be healed. Work on turning those negative thoughts into positive ones and spend a little time every day visualising the person you want to be and the life you want to lead – see yourself achieving these goals. It really does work!

Fermented Foods: Fermentation of foods magnify the nutritional value or content of that food, and are found in cultures all over the world. Enriching your diet with cultured vegetables, kefir from milk or young green coconut water, miso soup, and other probiotic foods and beverages will nourish your digestive system with healthy bacteria, and in turn, keep you feeling good.

Put It In Writing: Bottled up emotions are like volcanoes that are ready to erupt - it's important to release the stress before exploding. Try talking things through with a friend or family member – a problem shared is a problem halved! If you don't feel like talking to someone, write down your thoughts and feelings. Either way, you'll feel a lot better by "letting it all out".

Laughter: You may not think the laugh lines on your face are funny, but laughter plays an important role in diffusing tension. Under a stressful situation, chemicals in your body are released, causing an increase of blood pressure and heart rate. Laughter can have the opposite effect.

Sleep away stress: It may seem like you never get enough sleep, and during the busy winter season things like stress, travel, hectic holiday schedules and more can really keep you from getting a good night's sleep. But sleep is essential to properly recharge your body and achieve good health. And winter is without question the best time to focus on your sleep. With the shorter days, Mother Nature is providing us with extra hours of darkness to help us catch some extra ZZZZs. Doing so is much more important than you may realize. Try and get some early nights at least a couple of times a week – if you are having trouble sleeping try a warm bath, a mug of cocoa and some lavender essential oil either in the bath or on your pillow to relax you into sleep. There are some good herbal and homeopathic remedies available from health food shops and some chemists that can also help you sleep.

Alternatives: Modern life, particularly for women, is often a stressful experience. Try the above tips to make your life work better for you. If the going gets tough and you need a little extra help coping, rather than reaching for the anti-depressants think about using herbal or homeopathic remedies. Some examples that could be considered in a stressful situation are:

Homeopathic Aconitum: For sudden intense panic attacks (hyperventilating), after a shock, palpitations, faintness. Better for being outside.

Homeopathic Argentum Nit: Nervous, hurried, impulsive, obsessive. Anticipating and dread of ordeals. Diarrhea from nerves. Trembling, weakness.

Homeopathic Arsenicum Album: Nervous, very restless, Can be fearful about own health and/or about family. Paranoid. Can feel lonely and threatened. Very particular about order and cleanliness. Sudden weakness. Chilly. Better for being busy.

Homeopathic Ignatia: Grief, bad news, worry, depression, fright, disappointed love. Hysteria and weeping. Insomnia from emotions – light, restless sleep. Frequent, intense yawning.

A combination of Aconitum, Argentum Nit and Arsenicum Album often works very well in a stressful situation. Passiflora, Valerian and Wild Lettuce are often used herbally for their calming and soothing properties.

Most Health Food shops and some good chemists stock homeopathic and herbal remedies. They will only be sold in a low dosage and are very helpful in general or emergency situations. If you have been suffering from stress, anxiety, depression, etc for a number of years with severe symptoms, consultation with a qualified Homeopath is advisable. Homeopathic remedies are made from incredibly diluted natural substances that have no toxic side effects and are non-addictive. They are gentle and safe to use even for children, babies and in pregnancy and alongside conventional medication.

Today's woman | Assess your stress

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