Is stress keeping you from enjoying your life? It happens to the best of us, a loved one dies, or, a best friend suffers a stroke. Stressful emotions take hold and can negatively affect everyone differently, depending on their mind-set at any given moment. For instance, long term emotional stress can increase long term chronic illness and poor coping mechanisms. This mean there are biological and chemical levels and layers of stress.
If we change our reaction to stress, or change what causes stress, we can completely change our body’s chemistry, improve health in areas where we suffer congestion, and build stronger intimate relationships.
Here is a small list where stressed emotions can settle into body organs which in turn could show up as illnesses, autoimmune disorders and cancers.
- Fears we’re holding can increase stress levels. Studies have suggested that an abundance of worry and fear can show up as arthritis or psoriasis.
- Stress can keep the body in a chronic state of inflammation, affecting digestive health and increasing risk for heart disorders.
- “Molecular immunological factors are compromised in chronic stress and depression.”(1)
- “Lung, breast, and colon cancers, are more common in people who have experienced stressful life events.”(2) Interestingly enough, stress hormones can be linked to ovarian cancer.(3)
- When stuck in an argument and experiencing stress, we forget how to breathe or how to handle critical issues. “Oxidative damage in the brain causes an impairment of the nervous system.”(4)
Other signs of stress may include:
Back Pain
Constipation or Diarrhea
Asthma
Insomnia
Fatigue
Obesity
Weight Loss
Indigestion/Gerd
Happier emotions can increase energy reserves, improve health and relationships.
How can you change a world full of stress?
1- Food affects every cell in our body. Any process that deprives the cells of oxygen and nutrients will lead to stress. This means ditching foods such as sugar, gluten and trans-fats. These foods cause mitochondria misconduct, keeping us fatigued. When we avoid toxic foods, we can add in more beautiful thoughts.
2- Green is a de-stress color and a great ‘go to color’ to de-stress the gut and brain. In fact, green superfoods such as kale and spinach, sweep toxins out and build strength when experiencing stressful moments. Avoid alcohol and caffeine. These disrupt blood sugar levels and increase stress levels. Balance blood sugar levels and memory by adding in good fats, such as avocados. Additionally, I enjoy adding in Maca root to my green smoothies in the morning, for energy and mood balancing.
3- Work on relationship bonding instead of using antidepressants. This will build better connections with loved ones. Practice listening more instead of reacting. When we listen more, we actually breathe better and improve our oxygen levels.
4- Pay attention to the people you surround yourself with. Saying goodbye to toxic friends may not be an easy task but it can prove beneficial in the long run. Decrease mental pollution.
5- Remove body burden exposures to endocrine disruptors for less inflammation. Less toxins you expose your body to, the less stress it will have.(5)
6- Increase calm by clearing the clutter. When we take a long hard look at clutter in our home, we may find things that no longer serve our lifestyle today. Clutter includes things that drain us instead of giving us energy. Make your desk, office, or writing space, a place you can be proud of.
7- Recover from a fear based lifestyle and eliminate any limiting beliefs. One limiting belief can be, ‘I’m not good enough’, or thoughts that are super critical against yourself. Our body listens. If we take charge and change limiting beliefs, we can easily move from fear into happy. Happiness is a pattern we can set for our brain.(6) Find a bit of joy and gratitude each day. Ask who or what you are thankful for. Begin to recognize and write down happy moments. Just doing this one step sends a positive message to yourself!
8- Taking time to meditate is a calming practice to learn, as it helps us to understand what our body needs the most, and to re-evaluate who we are.
9- Exercise is a great way to de-stress. Walking or biking in the sun helps to de-stress and increases oxygen levels, circulation, and better thoughts. Find what form of exercise you like to do and go do it! Exercise boost serotonin levels, your happy button.
10- Don’t be a night owl. For better sleep you can diffuse organic lavender essential oil(7) or play your favorite soothing jazz music. Music helps to de-stress. Reduced sleeping time has a direct link to a foggy brain, high cortisol levels, weight gain, insulin resistance (8) and ‘how we handle stress’.(9)
When we pay attention to the body’s cues around stress, we have the knowledge and power of what is needed in order to de-stress! When we change the way we view stress, we experience more joy, love, peace and gratitude.
Take an action step daily and see positive results in your mind and body immediately. You can do it!
Connie Rogers is a Certified Integrative, Nutritional, Holistic Health Coach and Published Author. Owner of www.bitesizepieces.net Find her book here:
‘Path to a Healthy Mind & Body’
footnotes:
1- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15465465
2- http://www.hoajonline.com/jctr/2049-7962/3/6
3- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16428474
4- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2763246/
5- http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3239317/
6- http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2015/02/what-a-happy-cell-looks-like/385000/?
7- https://skinhealthfromwithin.com/2015/09/18/organic-lavender-essential-oil/
8- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24011890
9- http://www.naturalnewsblogs.com/kick-insomnia-gut-prevent-weight-gain/
Connie believes health and wellness are established with proper nutrition, fitness, and mindfulness. Connie takes a natural and holistic, common sense approach to rebuilding well-being from the ground up. As she works with each client, together they open a door that empowers them to rewrite their life, one bite size step at a time!
