Just Stress Relief

Stress and anxiety are part of life for many people. If you find that you’re spending much of the day anxious, ask yourself why this is. It’s important that you deal with anxiety, so that it doesn’t poison your life.

It’s natural to be anxious in some situations, like a job interview for example. Once the interview is over, your anxiety is relieved. However, if you experience chronic anxiety, it’s time to get help.

See the doctor to help you to deal with anxiety

It’s no shame to have to go to the doctor and ask for help.  If you can never relax and are so consumed by worries that it makes having a normal life hard or impossible, you need to see your doctor .

Perhaps the doctor will prescribe medicines for your anxiety and stress relief.  That doesn’t mean you’re ‘lacking’ in some way for needing to take pills for a mental or emotional problem.  Extreme anxiety and never ending stress can often be the signs of easily treatable physical problems.

Relaxation can help you to deal with anxiety

You deserve at least ten minutes of fun and luxury a day; after all look at all you have to put up with!  If you can find ten minutes a day to treat yourself and be comfortable with it, you can find fifteen minutes, and so on.  This doesn’t mean you are selfish; you are just training how to feel good about yourself.  By experiencing happy times, you can remember what it feels like.  With time and practice, you can tap into that calm and secure feeling whenever you need it.

Some people take a walk during this “me-time”.  Some people read a book to gain anxiety and stress relief.  Some people take a bath; others write a poem or engage in light exercise or take yoga classes. 

See what works best for you; you want something that takes you out of the river of worries onto a little island of calm.  Listening to music or meditating can bring this island about for many people.

[tags]anxiety, stress relief[/tags]

When you’re under stress, your diet often suffers. If you’re working too hard, you may miss meals completely, or restrict yourself to fast food.

If this is your situation, supplements can help, especially supplements with stress-reducing chemicals like serotonin. Serotonin helps induce calm.

Serotonin levels are often naturally higher in the morning, but decrease in the late afternoon. You can help your body by tailoring your diet accordingly.

A late afternoon snack is a good idea. Baked, rather than fried, potato chips help stimulate serotonin production. Pretzels, too, are low in fat but healthy.

Stress is related to diet in other ways. It doesn’t merely reduce helpful neuro-transmitters but encourages counter-productive habits, as well. Some people take to eating excessive amounts, particularly of high fat foods, in order to compensate for the symptoms of stress. Some studies suggest, however, that high fat foods tend to slow down or inhibit serotonin levels.

Moderation in intake is wise for other reasons, too. Just as inadequate exercise leads to poor fitness, excessive caloric intake amplifies the damage. As you become flabby and overweight, body image can suffer, leading to a downward spiral in self-image. The result is increased stress and often depression.

Breaking that vicious cycle requires effort, but it carries double rewards. As you become more fit, you reduce the physical effects of stress-induced biochemicals. You also improve your body, helping create a body image that elevates your mood. That kind of investment in your well-being is well worth the effort required to break the cycle.

Eating at regular times is helpful. When people are stressed, they’ll often skip meals because of the depressive effect stress has on appetite. Often, too, stress is work related and less time is available for meals at scheduled times. That behavior has a compounding effect. Here again, you need to break the cycle by making a commitment to a healthy lifestyle.

If you’re not eating proper meals, make sure you take supplements, preferably those which contain serotonin.

[tags]stress, diet, supplements[/tags]

Did you know that you can provide your own instant stress relief by learning how to breathe?

When you’re stressed, your breathing changes, and you may pant or breathe a lot faster than usual: this cuts the oxygen supply in your body, and your body puts out distress signals for you to get more oxygen that might contribute to your anxiety.  (This is known as hyperventilation.)

When you feel overwhelmed, take a deep breath.  Take many deep breaths for natural stress and anxiety relief.  This minute or so of taking time out to breathe deeply will give your body a time-out and help calm panic.  It will also lower your heart rate and blood pressure during stressful times.

Some people find it difficult to breathe deeply for natural stress and anxiety relief.  This is normal.  If you have this problem, keep a small dark glass bottle of essential oils nearby.  Sniffing the essential oil will make your body instinctively take deeper breaths. 

Some recommended oils that encourage deep breathing are lavender, frankincense and tea tree.  Bergamot works for some, but not for others. 

Scent is a very personal thing; take some time to sniff essential oils sold in a health, fitness, occult supply stores or pharmacies.  Some large chain supermarkets carry essential oils in their organic departments.  They are made from natural plant and fruit extracts and oils, making them truly organic and natural solutions for stress and anxiety relief.
Do you need professional help?

Always call your physician if you are you having trouble eating and/or sleeping, if you feel overwhelmed, if your worries are running so constantly through your mind that you can’t relax and if you think that if you stop worrying, it’s somehow wrong.

Evaluate these symptoms honestly.  If you suffer from any or all of these symptoms, make an appointment with your health care professional today.  Follow his or her advice closely and try to squeeze in these natural stress and anxiety relief exercises as well.

[tags]stress relief, breathing, essential oils[/tags]