How To Prevent Stress
Stress, the annoying five letter word that plagues millions of Americans. More and more of us are facing health problems that are directly caused or worsened by stress. It can lead to headaches, sleeplessness, high blood pressure, heart disease, anxiety, and other serious medical issues. The severity of it has been desensitized by the mass production of stress therapy products that we see on the market. Today you can purchase everything from stress relieving candles, lotions, pills, teas, fidget spinners, adult coloring books and everything in between. While these items may smell nice or be fun to play with they are actually doing little to help manage your stress.
The key to a stress-free life is to stop it from forming in the first place. There are healthy, natural methods to not only alleviate your stress levels but to focus on the issues that are causing them in the first place, so it can be avoided in the future. Life is crazy and taxing, sometimes things happen that you can’t prepare for. It is impossible to eliminate all stress but you have to focus on the areas you can control. If you let small things give you anxiety they will snowball until they become one big problem, potentially causing a breakdown. Below are natural ways you can use your body and mind to become your own natural stress reliever.
Exercise and diet
Let’s face it when we have a stressful day most of us head straight for the freezer and grab the Ben and Jerry’s. Food might make you feel better initially but how do you feel after you eat? Emotional eating is a popular coping mechanism that many of us reach for immediately but it is terrible not only for your figure but your mind. A healthy eating routine coupled with exercise is a natural way to help lessen your stress. Sometimes when we are down it’s hard to muster enough energy to put in a good workout, however, any physical activity will help you with stress. Studies show that it reduces fatigue, reinforces one’s ability to focus, and enhances overall cognitive function.
Exercise, like stress, comes in many forms. From running, yoga, strength training or walking, there are endless possibilities to get your heart pumping and body moving. Already a gym rat? Change up your workout or start a new program. Sometimes an overall wellness program with a structured meal, workout and supplement plans can make over your body not just physically but emotionally as well. This can give you more natural energy and put yourself in a healthy mind frame.
Communicate
Communication is a great stress reducer. Voicing out your concerns can stop the buildup of negative and stressful thoughts. When something is on your mind, talk it out. Speak to a friend, co-worker, family member, therapist or even the girl in the checkout line. Communicating at least some of your emotions is a big help. Not a big talker? Write. You don’t have to be 13 to have a diary, record your daily thoughts in a journal or blog. When a situation arises that upsets you; think about what happened, what you did and how you felt. This way when future situations arise you can read what you wrote and face it with a sense of calm.
Breathe
When something presents itself to be a possibly stressful situation, focus on your breathing or try counting. Take deep breaths or count up and down slowly, pausing and emphasizing on each breath or number. Remember being told to count sheep when you were a kid to help you fall asleep? Well, there was a reason to your parent’s madness. Counting slowly helps calm your thoughts down and helps your mind focus on what is jumping over the fence not what is bothering you. Deep, slow breathing helps relieve your body physically and mentally for the same reason.
Massage Therapy
Massage Therapy is an amazing way to reduce stress. We all know that nothing feels better than a nice massage but it is doing more than just removing the knots from your back. Massages can release tensions and promote relaxation. Routine massage therapy can help stop the stress from building up in the first place. There are all different types of massage techniques, including body wraps that pinpoint various ailments and helps detoxify your body. The Ultimate Unwinder is a favorite here at Essentials. It is a beautiful 50-minute signature deep relaxing full body massage that offers a blend of Swedish and circulatory strokes.
Looking for something different? Programs like Reiki and Chakra balancing are natural and safe methods of self-improvement that are for everyone. Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and promotes relaxation and healing. The Reiki Master utilizes gentle touch therapy to facilitate a person’s own innate ability to relax and restore on a deep cellular level. Chakra balancing is performed by the Reiki master. The master touches several energy points to create a healing energy connection between practitioner and client. This Reiki session includes the use of 7 Chakra healing Essential Oils specifically used to induce a deep state of relaxation. Both are offered here at Essentials and are performed by a Reiki master. Shirodhara is another specialty offered here. It is an Ayurvedic treatment that balances and stabilizes the mind and induces extreme relaxation. A soothing, steady stream of warmed herbal-infused oil is poured over the forehead and 6th chakra. This purifying treatment melts tension and calms the nervous system.
Stress is impossible to eliminate but you can make positive changes to reduce it. Take charge of your own life and control your emotions. Avoiding temporary stress relief strategies and focusing on your mind, body and soul will enable you to take control of your life and help manage your emotions.