Stress and Its Effects On Your Body

Everyone has some stressors in their life, so how can these stressors affect you?

Stress is the body’s reaction to the many demands of your day. You may get it from your kids, your job, or even from the mailbox in the form of bills. These stress’s can affect your body, how you feel, and you behavior. The worst is that, according to Mayoclinic.com, stress can lead to obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, and even diabetes.

Did you know?

• In your body stress can cause; headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, sleeping problems, and indigestion.
• For your mood stress can cause; anxiety, depression, and a lack of motivation.
• For your behavior stress can cause; overeating, anger, drug and alcohol abuse, and social withdrawal.

Take Mayo Clinic's Stress Assessment to see where you stand! http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress-assessment/SR00029

Currently, there are two types of stress. One considered almost beneficial (sometimes causing motivation) and one considered problematic.

Acute

This is the immediate reaction to a threat or challenge. Generally there are no real health issues caused by acute stress nut if the event is severe enough it can caused PTSD or post traumatic stress disorder.

Chronic

When stress piles up on top of you and tends to be constant, this is problematic to your health.

With everyone experiencing stress in their daily lives here are some easy ways to alleviate the build up including meditation, relaxation, taking deep breaths, yoga, creative outlets, and simply put: exercise.

You have probably heard more and more about meditation recently, a practice believed to have been started before the 15^th century BCE, which can easily cut the tension of stress.   So here are some easy ways to practice meditation…

• Yoga- has been practiced for thousands of years and includes doing poses called ansanas and can also include breathing and meditation exercises. Yoga can also increase your strength, flexibility, and balance.
•  Tai Chi- promotes “serenity through gentle movements”. It involves self-paced movements and poses which are achieved through a slow, constant movement.
•  Mantra- involves chanting a particular word of phrase of your choice, and pushes all other thoughts out of your head, therefore reliving stress and tension.
• Qi Gong- is similar to combining all other stated forms of reflection like breathing, movement, exercise, and meditation. It is said that Qi Gong can promote a a calm mindful state and allow access to higher realms of awareness.

 And don't forget simple relaxed breathing

See WebMD for some more tips and tricks!

With any medical advice, please talk to your doctor before beginning something like meditation including yoga, tai chi, and qi gong. Some people can cause injury beginning a new exercise regimen. Meditation does not substitute treatment for ailments.

I feel relaxed already!

Have you meditated? What worked best for you? Let us know in the comments section.

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-Maxwell Law