Don’t Ignore Your Stress

As Naturopathic Doctors, we believe in holistic health, which is the treatment of your soul, body, and mind.

Fortunately, our society has made great progress toward addressing the importance of mental health.

But even though maintaining a good diet and exercise is great for your overall health, sometimes taking care of your mind (especially when you’re feeling stressed) may require a different form of treatment.

So if you struggle with stress, keep reading to learn more about what stress is, and some natural remedies that may help you put your stress at ease.

What is stress?

Stress is an automatic reaction of your body’s nervous system. Your nervous system controls your heart rate, breathing, and other areas of your body.

The feeling of stress is commonly known as a “fight-or-flight response”.

In certain situations, the fight-or-flight response can help you concentrate in an emergency or escape a dangerous situation – however, we commonly feel signs of stress for reasons that are not emergencies.

Symptoms of Stress

It’s normal for everyone to feel stress at some point, but long-term stress can cause physical and emotional symptoms, and may even cause destructive coping mechanisms.

The way each person experiences stress can be different but generally, physical feelings of stress show up in the following ways:

• Headache, aches, and pains
• High blood pressure
• Jaw clenching
• Dizziness or shaking
• Muscle tension
• Stomach pain or digestive issues
• Exhaustion or difficulty sleeping

Stress can cause mental symptoms as well, such as:

• Anxiety (including panic attacks)
• Irritability
• Depression

What are unhealthy coping mechanisms for stress?

It’s important to be aware of unhealthy coping mechanisms that can occur from long-term stress.

These may appear in the forms of: drinking too often or too much alcohol, gambling, using hard drugs, smoking, or developing an eating disorder.

Sometimes the progression of using these methods is so subtle that an addiction can form before the user notices excessive use.

If you are using drugs, alcohol, or gambling, or have thoughts of hurting yourself to relieve yourself from stress, you should seek medical attention.

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 800-273-8255

The National Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-522-4700

Natural Ways to Relieve and Prevent Stress:

• Identify what triggers your stress: Is there a certain task that you dread doing? Are you getting close to a deadline? Do you get nervous when you see your boss? Once you identify what triggers your stress, do your best to deal with it head-on. Try to find a solution by asking for help from a family member or trusted co-worker.
• Try Deep Breathing: A great way to reduce stress is to practice deep breathing exercises. This exercise can be done in almost any place. As soon as you feel stressed, begin the exercise:
  • Place a hand on your belly.
  • Breathe in through your nose.
  • Take notice of your belly moving inward.
  • Breathe out through your nose.
  • Take notice of your belly expanding.
  • Repeat 4 times.
• Consider Natural Vitamins and Supplements: Supplements such as Ashwagandha, Blends of natural herbs, such as Clarity Compound, and Phytocannabinoids have shown to be effective towards relieving stress. If you’re unsure what vitamins or supplements may help your stress, contact us today.

Although experiencing some stress is a natural occurrence, there is no need to feel that your stress should not be addressed.

If you are worried about the amount of stress you experience, talk to your doctor or a healthcare professional.

Remember that your mental health is just as important as your physical health, so don’t wait if you are feeling mentally unwell.

– ProNatural Wellness Group & ProNatural Homecare Team