Understanding Stress
It never fails, every time I am stressed I end up sick. I hate being sick and going to the doctors is the last thing this stubborn girl wants to do. I'm like a little 3 year old that gets frustrated at the help of mom tying my shoes, "DON'T touch! I can do it MYSELF!"
Well, after scouring the internet for cures, 5 days of drinking every juice known to man, cutting out coffee, and adding baking soda to my water (to balance my PH) my body has conceded defeat and I am now on antibiotics.
It got me thinking. This little song and dance that I play with my body happens a lot. Especially when seasons of high stress are involved.
So what exactly happens to our bodies under stress? And how can we be proactive in taking care of ourselves on the front end?
What is stress? Stress is a normal reaction to any circumstance that makes you feel threatened or unbalanced in any way.
Your nervous system responds by releasing stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol. These hormones awaken the body and prepare it to fight. Hence the "fight-or-flight" term.
Your heart beats faster, muscles tighten, blood pressure rises, and you become more alert. Your digestion stops, your body's immune functions decrease, and that's because those things aren't needed when you are trying to protect yourself in the immediate situation. These physical changes increase your strength and stamina, and increase your reaction time.
It is your body’s way of protecting itself. It's there for a reason, to help you stay focused, energetic, and alert.
But prolonged stress can take a toll on you physically and mentally. Here's how:
Digestion It messes with your stomach by slowing down the release of stomach acid which interferes with how well your stomach can empty itself. Leaving you with stomachaches.
Heart High levels of the stress hormone cortisol increase your heart rate and your blood pressure. These factors raise your risk for heart attacks and strokes.
Immune system Normally, your immune system responds to infections by releasing chemicals that help the healing process. When you are stressed, your immune system is weakened, slowing the healing process and making you more susceptible to colds and infections.
Weight Cortisol makes you crave carbs and greasy fat foods, which can cause you to gain weight. For us women it lands right around the belly.
Mental Well-Being Being bombarded with stress hormones creates a constant state of tension and anxiety. Over time this can set you up for depression, headaches, insomnia, or other health problems.
So what can we do to be proactive?
Exercise - Get those endorphins pumping! One of the best stress relievers is exercise, plus it improves your mood and can control your weight. BAM!
Rhodiola Rosea - "Rhodiola contains a phytochemical known as salisdroside. This component helps combat anxiety and aging. Rhodiola suppresses the production of cortisol and increases levels of stress-resistant proteins. Studies have found that it restores normal patterns of eating and sleeping after stress, combats mental and physical fatigue, protects against oxidative stress, heat stress, radiation and exposure to toxic chemicals. Rhodiola protects the heart and liver, increases use of oxygen, improves memory and may extend longevity." Dr. Josh Axe, (follow him on twitter)
Sleep - 6 to 8 hours a night is what doctors recommend. Lack of sleep will impair your ability to focus and problem-solve. Put away your ipad and your iphone and pick up a book. Take a shower before bed or try meditating. All these things can help you to relax and fall asleep. Find what works for you and stick to a routine.
H.A.L.T. - I was told thing acronym years ago and it has been my gauge to all of my emotional meltdowns. Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired. Whenever you are feeling stressed stop and ask yourself, "Am I hungry, angry, lonely or tired?" If you are, fix it.
Question: What things help you combat stress?