The negative effects of stressful situations on the physical and mental health of persons have been rated. Rated highest is the death of a spouse, and divorce is next, followed by other stressful circumstances such as marriage, personal illness, etc. The more a person experiences these situations person, the greater the chance of illness.
Everyone experiences stress and everyday small stresses are not harmful. In fact, they are often just stimulating enough to make life enjoyable, or at least interesting. In fact, Dr. Hans Selye, a stress expert, has said, it is not stress that is harmful but distress. Distress occurs when emotional stress is prolonged and not dealt with in a positive way. The physical and emotional state that results from distress can lead to illness.
When faced with a high degree of stress, the body reacts by shutting off digestion, increasing the heart rate and breathing, raising blood pressure, and releasing stored fats and sugars in the body. In primitive times, these changes in the body prepared man to flee or fight. Now, we rarely use this response.
Many people attribute their stress-related symptoms to “nerves.” In fact, stress first affects the parts of the body that relate to the nervous system, especially through the digestive system. A state of continual stress eventually tires the body, weakens the immune system, creates high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, and initiates conditions such as depression, headaches, indigestion, pains, and sleeplessness. All of these can turn into much more serious problems.
Royal Recommendations for Prevention and Treatment
1. Avoid caffeine, smoking (See “Smoking Addiction”), alcohol, and drugs. Drugs and alcohol may offer temporary relief from stress, but the stressor is still there the next day, and your health suffers with their use.
2. Avoid high-stress foods including white sugar, white flour, fast foods, and junk foods.
3. Check your food allergies. (See “Allergy—Foods.”) At the very least, avoid dairy and wheat products for at least one month. Try to eat as close to nature as possible by emphasizing a diet of raw foods.
4. Increase your physical activity. Some people like to run or walk by themselves. Others prefer team sports such as basketball or soccer. Any type of exercise will do the trick, if it is followed regularly. (See “Obesity.”)
5. Meditation, stretching, auto-suggestion tapes, and breathing exercises can help you to feel more relaxed and peaceful. You can stop and deep breathe anywhere. Do this by closing your eyes and slowly inhaling for 10 to 20 seconds. Use your diaphragm by allowing your stomach to expand outward with each inhalation. Hold your breath for 10 to 20 seconds. Then, exhale by forcing your stomach inward for 10 to 20 seconds. With each breath, allow your shoulder to droop, you jaw to drop and your body to relax. Repeat this three times or whenever you begin to feel stress building.
6. Try to identify your sources of stress. Separate them into two categories: things you can do something about, and things you cannot control and must learn to accept. This process allows you to allocate your time where it’ll do the most good--and to stop worrying about things you can’t do anything about.
7. Try to rest and to get enough sleep. The less sleep you get, the more stressful you will feel, and the greater your chance of becoming ill. (See “Insomnia.”)
8. Take a day off—that’s what weekends are for! Take a drive or go to the beach. If you prefer, stay home and work in the yard or read. Try to control your thoughts during this time so that you don’t think about work or whatever problems are causing the stress.
9. Try not to take life so seriously. Learn to laugh. Laughter, like exercise, makes the body produce endorphins, the body’s natural painkillers. Endorphins also produce a feeling of well-being that makes you more resistant to stress.
10. It’s not what’s out there that’s the problem; it’s how you react to it that makes the difference. Affirmations can help you to emphasize the positive in your life. For example, instead of saying, “I can’t handle this,” tell yourself repetitiously, “I can handle this.”
11. Tune into good music. Music is an enormously powerful tool for fighting stress. Find what you like and use it to soothe and inspire you.
12. Talk about your problems with someone who can remain totally objective. Realize that feeling sad is a natural emotion. It’s getting stuck in one emotion or being apathetic that’s unhealthy. Instead of moping about, make an effort at being more proactive. Try to find positive solutions to problems that may be giving you reason to be depressed. If you need to cry then let the tears flow. Crying is a tremendous emotional release if you know what you’re crying about.
13. As the body ages, and degenerative diseases increase, hormone levels decrease. Have your doctor check your DHEA, testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen levels. Keeping hormone levels as near mid-range as possible helps to keep the body functioning at its optimum. Natural hormone supplements from plants are available. (See “Hypothyroidism.”)
14. Heart rate variability testing of depressed patients shows that the Autonomic Nervous System of such individuals usually have high activity in the parasympathetic nervous system. In general, the PNS slows down body activities in an attempt to conserve energy. Signs of high parasympathetic activity are constipation, frequent urination at night, mood swings, and poor circulation to the extremities. This can now be treated with non-cognitive biofeedback (i.e., recycling of heart rate variations).
15. Get checked for heavy metals. (See “Chelation Therapy.”) For example, tissue levels of cadmium are often higher in cigarette smokers and individuals who live in areas where the drinking water is soft. Mercury from amalgam fillings and aluminum from various compounds are other sources of heavy metals to consider. These can all decrease circulation and oxygenation supplied to the brain.
16. Supplements know to be beneficial include vitamins A, C, E, Bioflavonoids, B-complex (with additional B5 and B6), vitamin B12 injections, the minerals magnesium and zinc, and adrenal and thymus glandulars.
17. Herbs found to be helpful are chamomile, ginseng, hops, passionflower, rose hips, skullcap, and valeriana.
18. Homeopathics recommended include Aconite (for acute anxiety), Avena Sativa (if addicted to stimulants), Coffea Cruda (if unable to sleep), Ignatia (for acute grief), Natrum Muriaticum (if sadness is prolonged), Nux Vomica (for effects of anger), and Valeriana (for its calming effects).
Remember, there is no escape from stress. Therefore, we must simply learn to handle it in a constructive way. To learn more about healing and health optimizing therapies, go to www.NewHopeMedical.org or call NEW HOPE MEDICAL CENTER at (702) 476-0000 (direct line) or toll free (866) HEAL-NOW!