The Importance of Conquering Stress

Stress is a by-product of life, and it will never be practical to expect to rid stress from our lives. Learning to recognize what is creating havoc in our lives, discovering ways to keep it from doing damage, and arming ourselves with stress-fighting techniques is what we’ll cover today.

Stress is a form of chemical warfare against the brain. It has the capability of ravaging brain cells and inciting dementia. That’s pretty graphic, and I’m here to lay out some things I’ve learned and to encourage all of us to put boots on the ground in self-defense.

Chronic stress can become self-perpetuating where the brain ends up wiring itself to act in stressful ways. We know there are many hormones in our bodies, and optimum health requires those hormones to be working in perfect harmony. When they are out of balance, which can happen for many reasons, we suffer the consequences. For this reason, we should always be open to a heart to heart talk with our doctor. He or she can arrange for lab work, which may identify that imbalance and be of help in getting us on the road to recovery. There are prescription medicines as well as anti-stress supplements, and your doctor is your best source in determining which are right for your situation.

In my research for this article, I found that adding foods high in magnesium can be very beneficial in fighting stress. During times of stress, your burn rate of magnesium increases and as your magnesium depletes, you become subject to stress, which makes you jumpy and more irritable. Magnesium has a relaxing effect on the body. Foods rich in magnesium include dark chocolate (at least 70% cocoa), avocado, nuts (cashews, Brazil, almonds), legumes (lentils, black beans, chickpeas, peas, soybeans), tofu, seeds (pumpkin, flax, chia), whole grains (wheat, oats, barley, buckwheat, quinoa), fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, halibut), banana, and leafy greens (spinach, kale, collards, turnip greens, mustard greens).

The next item to add to your arsenal of self-medication is to become familiar with the list of seven proven ways to get calmer as outlined in Peggy Sarlin’s book entitled, Regain Your Brain.

• Breathe – Quoting Ms. Sarlin, “….changing the patterns of breathing it is possible to restore balance to stress response systems, calm an agitated mind, relieve symptoms of anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD, improve physical health and endurance, elevate performance and enhance relationships.”Here is one of many videos online demonstrating simple breathing techniques.
• Meditate – A daily routine of 20 minutes of meditation encourages a calm, cheerful state of mind and is associated with getting better sleep. Look for a class to learn the basics. There are many online videos, including a well-known meditation app called HeadSpace. Enjoy this video from my website of butterflies while contemplating the beauty of nature and God’s creations.
• Nature – Spend time every day immersed in the healing powers of nature while having your soul recharged for very little money if any. There are many videos online, but I found those created by Nature Rx to be reminders of the beauty and value of nature and at the same time, providing a few chuckles. Remember, laughter is good medicine too.
  
• Exercise – A daily routine of exercise produces endorphins or chemicals in the brain that act as natural painkillers. Exercise improves the ability to sleep and in turn, reduces stress. There are many forms of exercise. Find one, two, or more you like and do them regularly. Yoga and tai chi are touted to be particularly useful in handling stress.
• Therapies – There are many therapies to consider. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is where a patient and therapist work together to identify and change negative thoughts that promote self-destructive behavior. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR) tells the patient to recall disturbing memories, while rapidly shifting their eyeballs from side to side. Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) aims to release negative emotions and unleash blocked energy. A trained therapist will help with most of these therapies. However, the latter, EFT, can be done independently with assistance from online videos such as this one.

• Prayer and Faith – Here is a great stress-reduction technique that is both powerful and free. We turn our troubles over to God and concentrate on feeling a sense of purpose in life. This practice energizes and uplifts our lives.
• Practice Gratitude – Giving thanks calms our anxieties and elevates awareness of our blessings. Start a gratitude journal by writing down five things each day that make you feel grateful. Follow that practice by daily becoming more aware of things all around you with an attitude of gratitude. If you believe you have insurmountable issues with stress beyond the scope of your understanding, make an appointment with your doctor and have an open and honest discussion. Consider the services of a well trained licensed massage therapist.

In my reading for this article, I found that keeping one’s blood sugar stable is important, and taking a spoonful of coconut oil in the morning, afternoon and at bedtime will be beneficial. Many doctors recommend eating an anti-inflammatory diet, with healthy omega-three acids, especially DHEA. The ten foods listed here will help us achieve that goal, and includes broccoli, olive oil, blueberries, fish, nuts, tart cherries, kelp, fermented foods, papaya, and green tea.

Let’s make it a priority to find ways to alter the way we respond to the inevitable stress of life. As an example, fussing about the evening news, which is uncontrolled stress, is not good for us. Most often, we then go to bed and try to relax losing sleep in many cases. We need to stay informed, but maybe we ought to consider watching a newscast during the day followed by a walk outside. A better nighttime routine would be to listen to soothing music which stimulates good hormones like serotonin, dopamine, and HGH (human growth hormone). The result is more apt to be restful slumber, and that habit keeps us youthful. It’s also important to connect with other people frequently.

Here is one more unidentified quote I found online. “Stress wreaks havoc on your emotional equilibrium, as well as your physical health. It narrows your ability to think clearly, function effectively, and enjoy life. Effective stress management, on the other hand, helps you break the hold stress has on your life so that you can be happier, healthier, and more productive.”