Reducing well known health risk factors like stress, could add years to life expectancy
There are several ways that the effects of stress can be reduced, whether it be the the effects of stress from work, life, partners or illness.
Some forms of stress is good for us – if we feel a little worried about our next project, that may spur us on to make it a brilliant one. This type of worry is not the nail-biting, freaking out about it every minute of the day. It is basically about thinking how best to handle something so that it reflects in the best way possible for us. Thinking about it, deciding how it will be done, and once it has been completed, letting it go. Not worrying about it any more.
When a person is in a constant state of worry and fear about anything and everything, there is no positivity for them to anchor to, and they feel overwhelmed and stressed. Too much stress can lead to health problem being aggravated or leading to health problems starting in the first place (studies are now starting to prove this – stress can make us ill!).
Stress can only affect us adversely if we do not have strategies on how to deal with it effectively.
Affirmations
Some positive affirmation to think about:
- If the worst happens, I’ll deal with it
- I can deal with anything
- Everything will work out ok in the end
There are many books on self-help available, which you can read. Good ones are by Louise L Hay and Shakti Gawain.
Stress relief strategies
- Meditation – this works by calming the body and mind and releasing negative emotion, which tenses the body and mind. Meditation is a way of learning how to sit still and relax
- Visualisation – this is a strategy in which there is some meditation involved, but it is more than just meditation. Visualisation is about imagining the source of the stress melting away and replacing it with calm and positivity
- Warm bath with mineral salts – this is a very effect strategy to de-stress after a long day and can help those that cannot get to sleep at night. All that is needed is a hot bath, some mineral salts (eg Radox or even just plain sea salt / rock salt) and a few drops of a relaxing essential oil such as lavender oil
- Exercise – exercise is a really useful de-stressing strategy. When we exercise, the “happy” hormones (endorphins) are released, but not only that, exercise allows the excess nervous energy to be released in a healthy, productive way
- Yoga – this is a form of eastern meditation and exercise. It is another way to calm the body and mind and again can release endorphins if it is a vigorous type of yoga. Even the more slower forms distract the mind enough to take the concentration off the stress
- Social Activities – spending time with other people helps to ease the effects of stress, as it provides joy and merriment within a social environment