increases to push oxygen and nutrients to our muscles so we can run away. The body also shunts blood from the digestive system (it’s less important to digest food than it is to escape a hairy monster) and suppresses the immune system (also non-vital in an emergency situation). These are transient changes that are usually reversed when the stress is over. The reason stress is such a problem in our society is that it’s chronic. The stresses we experience overwhelm our ability to adapt to them. Chronic stress leads to inflammation, and inflammation leads to chronic disease. The 4 leading causes of death in the U.S. are heart disease, cancer, stroke and lung disease, all of which can be influenced by the stress you experience on a daily basis.
traffic that our nervous system has to work constantly to tune all of it out and deal with acute stressors on top of that. Additionally, the load of toxins in our bodies, another form of stress, is higher than ever, and it’s compounding with each successive generation.
Check out the environment in which you spend the majority of you time. If it’s sitting in front of the computer, have an ergonomic evaluation of your workspace to ensure the way you’re sitting isn’t contributing to poor posture. Did you know that Botox for the forehead has been used to treat people with anger management issues? Apparently, if you can’t squinch your forehead into a grimace, it’s a lot harder to get angry . . . same with tense shoulders and anxiety. Get regular massage and exercise before going to work, or on lunch hour. Practice conscious breathing. Meditate. Do yoga. Take Epsom salt baths with lavender essential oil. Take an assessment of the relationships in your life, not only with people, but also activities. Which ones build you up? Which ones suck your energy? Which relationships do you choose to cultivate? Consider how your lifestyle affects your body. Do the choices you make about diet enhance your quality of life? Foods high in antioxidants reduce the effects of inflammation in the body - think blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, dark greens, orange squash and spices like turmeric and cayenne. Eat protein and a green vegetable with every meal to avoid energy crashes from low blood sugar. Get enough sleep. Going to bed between 8-10pm and waking between 6-8am gives your nervous system and hormones time to recover so your energy can be balanced throughout the day. Do your leisure activities provide energy or deplete it? Take a vacation! Studies have shown that people are actually more productive at work if they take regular breaks and have adequate vacation time.
