Take a deep breath and RELAX..…. April 1
st marks the
beginning of National Stress Awareness Month. Sponsored by The Health Resource Network, Stress Awareness Month is a
cooperative effort to
inform people about both the causes and cures for our
modern stress epidemic.
Just what is stress?
Stress is the body’s way of responding to any type of demand or
perceived threat.
The body enters a
state of alertness -
muscles tense,
breathing becomes faster, heart rate and blood pressure
increase as does the
production of certain hormones including adrenalin and cortisol.
Some stress is good.
It motivates us and can lead to positive
change and personal growth.
Stress becomes
problematic when it is chronic and the body never has a chance to wind
down.
Chronic stress can cause a host
of symptoms including irritability, fatigue, headaches, weight gain, insomnia,
difficulty concentrating and stomach aches or intestinal distress.
We can’t avoid all stress but we can counteract its negative
effects by learning how to evoke the relaxation response. The relaxation response is a powerful antidote
to stress. It brings the nervous system
back into balance. There are a variety of
techniques to produce the relaxation response.
These techniques include progressive muscle relaxation, deep breathing,
tai chi, yoga and meditation.
Over the next few weeks I will discuss several of these relaxation
techniques, and provide tools that you can start using immediately to reduce
stress and increase well-being. Experiment with several of them until you find
the technique that works best for you. Learning the basics of these techniques isn’t difficult, but achieving
continued benefit does take regular practice.
Most experts recommend setting aside 10-15 minutes a day for your
relaxation practice.
Awareness is the first step in coping with stress.
Do you suspect that stress might be a
problem?
Take
The Stress Test to find
out.
Looking for stress relieving
suggestions that you can implement today? Read my post
Ways to relieve Stress Naturally. Until next week.…just remember to BREATH.