Got Stress? Who Doesn't?!-Especially with the Holidays!

What is Stress?
 
According to the Mayo Clinic Stress is defined as; a physical, mental, and emotional response to a challenging event-not the event itself. Often refereed to as the fight-or-flight response, the stress response occurs when you feel threatened. Stress, whether positive or negative, is a normal part of everyone's life. Negative stress, however, diminishes your quality of life.
 

Notice the emphasis on response. When we react to these external or internal stressors it gives our body signals to release certain hormones to deal with these stress triggers. The triggers may always be there but how we respond to it determines the state of our health.
 
What triggers your Stress Response?
  • Finances?
  • Relationships?
  • Work?
  • School?
  • Environment?
  • Loss?
  • Vancouver Housing Prices??
 
How do these triggers manifest in your Body?
  • Headaches
  • Fatigue
  • Insomnia
  • Irregular Menstrual Cycles
  • Irritability/Mood Swings
  • Irritable Bowels
  • Heart Disease
  • Weight Gain
  • Infertility
 
When the body is in fight-or-flight mode a hormone called Cortisol is released. Cortisol is a necessary hormone for survival, which is the state we are in under stress. This state however should only last for a short period of time. However, the reality of our time and culture is to stay in this survival mode more often to get things done and deal with everyday life. When chronically releasing cortisol this hormone can cause havoc in our other systems such as the thyroid, immune, and in blood sugar regulation.  
 
Each of us is unique in the way we "digest" life and the stresses that come with it. Stress isn't necessarily a bad thing. Remember from pressure diamonds are revealed. From stress, lessons and opportunity is revealed and its up to us to see the potential in every situation. The above list gives you examples of how stress can play a role in your physical body when not processed in an appropriate way. They key then is to find ways to respond to stress and not react to it so that you can minimize its effects on your body.
 
Tools to Help Respond to Stress
 


 

Yoga:In a 2005 German Study women experiencing depression and anxiety participated in 90 minute daily yoga routine for three months where as the control group continued their daily activities with no change. The yoga showed a 50% improvement in just three months!

 

Meditation: There have been over 19000 studies done to assess the relationship between mindfulness meditation and anxiety and stress related responses. A meta-analysis has concluded the benefits of this practice to create long lasting health benefits in both mind and body.

 


Nutrition: Adequate nutrition that feeds all your cells gives your body more energy to respond to stresses. When under stress our digestive system isn't receiving the right signals to digest and absorb the nutrients your body needs and requires. 


Herbs: Our absolute favourite herb, Ashwaganda. It's an adaptogen and does just that, help your body adapt to the stresses it's facing. 

 

 

Got Stress?

Are you using
Coffee to wind up
and Wine to wind down?? 


Join Dr. Sonya Jensen and Bir Kaur Khalsa for a workshop on November 29th to Learn Tools to deal with Stress!
Don't let it control you!








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Sincerely,
Divine Elements-Naturopathic Family Wellness
604-568-3735| 
naturopaths@divineelements.ca
divineelements.ca