When you are anxious or stressed, the body produces adrenalin (your fight or flight hormone) which stresses the adrenal glands and compromises the liver & brain. Cortisol (the yucky stress & fat storage hormone that encourages the body to accumulate fat, especially around the middle) is also released – which causes a drop in serotonin (the happy chemical) in the brain.
This leads to depression, irritability, heightened insulin levels, & around-the-clock craving for sweets and fatty foods. Chronic stress also unleashes a barrage of free radicals that damage your body & brain cells – killing brain cells by the millions. You literally “stew” in your own soup of hormones.
What can you do to daily De-Stress?
Write down 3 things right now that make YOU feel peaceful – and do them at least 10 minutes per day or whenever you feel stressed. Practice letting adrenalin and cortisol subside – not grow in your body – it will help your health immensely!
Other ways to de-stress:
1. Be a Corpse. Lie down on the floor. The “corpse” pose is one of the BEST ways to de-stress the body and mind. (If you want a laugh and are brave, lie down beneath your cubicle at work – who knows, you might encourage someone else to de-stress.) By lying on the ground – your body can actually “let go” and release physical tension – which allows stress to literally melt out of your body. When the body relaxes, the mind follows.
2. Let Oxygen Help. This is actually my favorite form of meditation - breathing for 10-15 min in the morning. However, you can do for just 1-2 minutes when you're stressed...simply close your eyes and BREATHE – in and out...it's so simple and it so works.
What can you do to daily De-Stress?
Write down 3 things right now that make YOU feel peaceful – and do them at least 10 minutes per day or whenever you feel stressed. Practice letting adrenalin and cortisol subside – not grow in your body – it will help your health immensely!
Other ways to de-stress:
1. Be a Corpse. Lie down on the floor. The “corpse” pose is one of the BEST ways to de-stress the body and mind. (If you want a laugh and are brave, lie down beneath your cubicle at work – who knows, you might encourage someone else to de-stress.) By lying on the ground – your body can actually “let go” and release physical tension – which allows stress to literally melt out of your body. When the body relaxes, the mind follows.
2. Let Oxygen Help. This is actually my favorite form of meditation - breathing for 10-15 min in the morning. However, you can do for just 1-2 minutes when you're stressed...simply close your eyes and BREATHE – in and out...it's so simple and it so works.
Oxygen helps the whole body de-stress and slows down/halts the production of adrenalin and cortisol – also why exercise works so well. You can’t always go for a jog when stressed, but you can take deep breaths anywhere, anytime :-) Close your eyes and breathe and let your whole body relax. Visualize the adrenaline and cortisol fading away….
3. Connect to Good Energy. Sit outside in nature, touch a tree or a flower, look at something beautiful on your desk at work. Connecting with nature or beauty gives you energy when you most need it. Hugging a pet or someone you love does the same thing.
3. Connect to Good Energy. Sit outside in nature, touch a tree or a flower, look at something beautiful on your desk at work. Connecting with nature or beauty gives you energy when you most need it. Hugging a pet or someone you love does the same thing.
4. Take a Break. Listen to soothing or happy music or read a book/magazine for 10 minutes. Take a BREAK for your body and mind - transport your body to a peaceful place for 10 min and allow the hormones to subside. Get a cup of tea and just relax for 10 min.
5. Stop and THINK/FEEL. Ask yourself good questions. “Why do I feel stressed”? (Close your eyes and breathe for 1 min before doing this - it helps the whole process). Is it really that bad and what can I do about it right now to make me feel better NOW. What's the worst thing that can happen and is it really that bad? Have I felt this way before and did it work out in the end? How could I feel good about the situation? Can I choose different thoughts?
5. Stop and THINK/FEEL. Ask yourself good questions. “Why do I feel stressed”? (Close your eyes and breathe for 1 min before doing this - it helps the whole process). Is it really that bad and what can I do about it right now to make me feel better NOW. What's the worst thing that can happen and is it really that bad? Have I felt this way before and did it work out in the end? How could I feel good about the situation? Can I choose different thoughts?
If it is something you HAVE to do, realize that you have a choice to be relaxed while you do it (and happy), or stressed and contributing to bad health (which is probably worse than whatever you are stressed out about.
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