J.3/ De-Stress Your Life
For some feeling stressed, anxious or worried is apart of their daily life, it doesn’t have to be that way, some level of stress is normal, it’s a reaction to events that happen, it’s when it becomes all consuming that’s when it becomes an issue.
There are many methods to treat stress, physical, mental, medical treatments, it all depends on what you’re happy to go with and also how severe the anxiety is. Stress affects the majority of us, myself included, it’s normal to feel stressed, it’s your body responding to an event. Stress and anxiety becomes an issue when it interferes with daily life, when you’re unable to sleep, when you can’t leave the house without worrying, when you’re spending your time thinking about things over and over. Everyone deals with stress differently, but it’s important to see things from someone else’s perspective, something I might not find stressful may be incredibly overwhelming for someone else.
Treating anxiety can be complex, you have to find the triggers which is why in some cases it is helpful to speak to a counsellor or psychologist as they can give you tools and help you become aware of your warning signs. Mindfulness is something incredibly powerful in treating anxiety, it’s about being aware of the present and taking in your current environment, not thinking about anything else, it takes practice but it is something that can be done at any time. Some client’s also find having a diary is really helpful when they’re overthinking things, as getting it down on paper helps them be able to get it out of their head. Even if it’s just five minutes before going to bed, it can help clear your head and improve your sleep so you’re not thinking about everything while you’re trying to sleep.
Making sure you’re doing enough physical activity and getting outside in nature does wonderful things to your mental health. Going for a walk in the bush, heading to the beach, going to a park, getting fresh air and seeing the sun will help clear your head, expose you to Vitamin D, get some blood flow happening and allow yourself to breathe in fresh air. Or maybe joining a gym or doing a team sport is more your thing, seeing people, making new friends, will also help improve your mood. At the end of the day find something that suits you and make it apart of your daily routine.
There are also an abundance of natural supplements and herbal liquids available to help treat anxiety. Depending on the severity and individual will help me decide what is the best course of action for treatment options. I prescribe a range of nutrients such as Magnesium, B Vitamins, Vitamin C, Omega 3, Vitamin D; these nutrients help to calm the nervous system down, replenish the adrenal glands, reduce inflammation and help to make our neurotransmitters. In addition I use herbal medicine, herbs such as Lavender, Skullcap, Passionflower, Withania, Rehmania, are a few of my favourites.
It’s important to become aware of your feelings and know when to ask for help, know when you’re feeling too overwhelmed. Is your stress affecting your relationships, is it affecting your sleep, is it taking a toll on your job? It’s okay to say I need help, reach out to your loved ones and ask for support, to take care of others you also need to take care of yourself.
