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    How To Live Your Healthiest & Most Relaxed Life With Less Stress

    How To Live Your Healthiest & Most Relaxed Life With Less Stress

    If there is one word that defines our century, it’s probably “stress.”

    The term is widely used, whether you’re six or sixty, to describe a variety of experiences ranging from your TV remote not working or starting kindergarten to pre-marriage jitters, dealing with the boss, not finding a parking space or going to the dentist. But there is a vast difference between the colloquial and casual use of the word “stress” and the results of continuous exposure to the physiological stress response.

    Extended or chronic stress causes harm to both body and mind, and once you become aware of the changes that take place during the stress reaction, you can slowly begin to control it. This helps to improve the quality of life and creates a more peaceful and calm environment around you. Get more information about improving your health and wellness through self care resources here: https://restanddigest.com.au

    What Is Stress?

    Stress is a normal reaction to any unfamiliar or challenging situation. In this sense it is a natural reaction that goes far back in time to ancient times when human beings had to protect themselves against predators and other dangers they encountered. Physical changes occur in the body that prepare it for either fight or flight from the present danger. This physiological adaptation helps you to stay alert and capable of facing whatever comes at you. The threat could be real or perceived, external or internal and once the danger is deemed to have passed, the body resumes its normal functions and comes back into homeostasis.

    In stress:

    • Blood pressure and heart rate increase
    • Breathing is shallow and rapid
    • Skin turns pale or flushed
    • Pain responses may be suppressed
    • Pupils dilate
    • Hair rises on the body
    • Digestion and excretory functions may be temporarily halted, or you may lose bowel and bladder control
    • Blood rushes to extremities, excess glucose is released into the blood
    • Muscles tense up
    • Hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline are pumped into the blood

    Though individual responses may differ slightly, these are the typical attributes observed in stress. Continued exposure damages many systems in the body, leading to sleep and digestive disturbances, heart disease, diabetes and more.

    How To Relax

    The counter to the stress reaction is the Rest and Digest response which brings the body and mind back to the resting state. Breathing, heart-rate and blood pressure are normalized, digestive and excretory functions resume, muscles relax and stress hormones are stopped, and replaced by others such as acetylcholine, melatonin and others.

    The first step is to recognize and acknowledge your stress. Listen to your body and mind and then identify the common triggers. If you can’t immediately find the cause of stress, you can still proceed to the next step.

    Take slower and deeper breaths, and move out of the present environment if possible.

    You can go out into the yard, or balcony or take a walk round the block. The change of scene diverts the mind immediately.

    Identify pieces of music that soothe and calm your frayed nerves. Keep these ready and accessible so that you can play them whenever they are needed.

    Gentle exercise such as walking and stretching help to loosen tense muscles.

    Give yourself a mini massage on the neck and hands. Some experts reveal that rubbing your foot over a golf ball helps to relieve stress through a foot massage. You can purchase a wooden roller foot massager and keep it handy under your table at work to help you relax your feet. You can get a similar effect by squeezing a stress ball with your hands.

    Apart from these immediate fixes, you can cut stress long term in your life with a few changes. Changing your habits means changing your life and taking the first step to long term health and happiness.

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