The Importance of Stress Reduction

Stress seems to define many people's lives in this day and age. Trying to make ends meet financially, balance work and family responsibilities, have quality relationships, and deal with the inevitable crisis that come up in all of our lives takes its toll both physically and emotionally.

Stress is a given. It's not a question of whether we will have it, but rather how we are going to deal with it. Actually, not all stress is bad. When needed and appropriate, stress can enable us to deal with difficult or dangerous moments by releasing adrenaline and other hormones to meet the immediate need. Stress really begins to cause concerns when it is chronic, and when we don't take positive steps to eliminate it or cope with it.

How Can Excessive Stress Harm Me?

Ongoing high levels of stress is very bad for physical and mental health. Here are some of the major ways stress can be hazardous:

• Hormonal imbalance: Stress can throw of the hormonal balance in the body, opening us up to all types of illness. Hormones play such a large role many bodily functions, and when there are too few of some and too many of others (a scenario which stress can cause), the body becomes open to all types of disease.
• Immune system: This factor is a vicious cycle that causes illness resulting in more stress on the body, and the cycle repeats. When the immune system is compromised, our natural ability to weather stress is weakened, we are thus more susceptible to simple infections and debilitating conditions.
• Malnutrition: Stress can greatly have an effect on your digestive tract. This can lead to a variety of health issues, one of which is the inability to efficiently absorb nutrients from the food you eat. This can also result in poor immune system function as well as bowel function, causing toxins to build up in your system and thus exposing you to many potential diseases.
• Cardiovascular: Chronic stress causes the heart to beat faster and typically raises blood pressure as well. In addition, when the hormonal balance is thrown off, the risk for coronary disease is even greater.
• Emotional health: Stress can cause individuals in its grip to feel overwhelmed, anxious, depressed, confused and experience dangerously high levels of toxic emotions such as anger and fear. When the mind is affected this way, it also has a negative impact on our physical health as well.

Symptoms of excessively high stress levels may include:

• Headaches
• Muscle/joint pain
• Stomach aches
• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Indigestion
• Confusion
• Brain fog
• Memory loss
• Hopelessness
• Depression
• Fatigue

What's the Best Way to Deal With Stress?

• Start with the basics: Develop a lifestyle that pursues wellness by eating an organic, whole-foods based diet; drinking plenty of purified water in order to keep the body hydrated; exercising regularly; and getting enough quality sleep. You've heard of this before, but it bears repeating because it is so foundational to our overall wellness.
• Learn to differentiate between stressors you can't control and stressors you can change. For example, if you must commute to work through heavy traffic, you probably can't avoid that. (However, you can help yourself by listening to relaxing music while you drive, thus handling the stress better.) But some stressors, such as rushing because you get up late, can be changed if you choose to.
• Keep a stress journal: If you see recurring patterns of stress in your life, keeping a journal for a few weeks will help to identify causes and potential steps you can take to reduce stress. Write down what happened, how you felt, and what may have triggered stress. Identifying root problems that lead to stress is a great way to begin managing and eliminating it.
• Time management: Read a book or take a course on management and organization techniques. We can avoid a lot of stress simply by having order in our homes, offices, and lives.
• Talk about it: If you are feeling stressed-out, the worst thing you can do is keep it to yourself. Opening up to a spouse, friend, or counselor is excellent therapy. Ask for help if you need it. This will often strengthen relationships with your friends and loved ones, rather than harming them as stress so often does.

Other Suggestions

• Adequate B Vitamin intake. I recommend Max Stress B Nano-Plex which is an all-natural Vitamin B Complex.
• Bio D-Mulsion -- Studies indicate that low levels of Vitamin D-3 can cause depression and stress on the body.
• intra-MAX -- Organic, liquid multi-vitamin/mineral complex. Provides vitamins and minerals to support health.
• Lithium Orotate -- Natural lithium salts recommend by Dr. Hans Nieper and very effective. Great to take before bed for calming a racing mind.
• Pure Energy -- Serotonin and Melatonin Production. Serotonin is a neural transmitter which calms the system. Does not give one energy but definitely helps with stress and also promotes good sleep. Contact OAW for more information.
• Lavender and Rose Bulgaria essential oils applied to back of neck.
• Listen to the Healing CD from the Mozart effect. Use headphones.
• Deep breathing exercises.
• Walks in the sunshine.
• 8-10 hours of sleep every night in a dark, cool room.
• Afternoon at the spa -- massage, reflexology, facial, etc.
• Reading an up-lifting book.
• Chiropractic adjustments.
• Learn to say "no" to activities or requests in which you know will stretch you too thin.
• Gardening/hobby.

Recommended Reading

Stress
Conquer Your Stress Naturally
Stress Relief Video