Wellness News

Killer stress
by Angelena Craig

Stress has always been around. Our ancestors had to deal with stress of a different sort than today. I think of families crossing our country in covered wagons, heading west to an unknown destination, encountering all sorts of dangers and what their stress level  may have been. Life expectancy was much shorter then it is now, but in terms of living with stress, we may be no better off.

Our media keeps us well aware of all that can and does go wrong. Current among our worries may be pandemics, dangerous diseases from small insects like lime ticks or mosquitos, crazy people coming out of nowhere to do us harm, economic uncertainties,  disastrous weather conditions, and so much more. The constant barrage from the media of all the bad news seeps into our very being, and even if we are not aware, greatly disturbs our peace of mind.

We now know and understand the mind-body connection and how if we are stressed in our minds our bodies will respond, making us sick and shortening our lives. But stress does not have to kill us. We can take charge and use the stress reduction tools which are readily available.

The first thing we need to do is to notice when we are stressed, and how that affects our bodies. Where is it we feel it? Do we get an upset stomach? Headache? Aches in our neck, shoulders, back? Do we clench our jaw? Do we have a chronic condition that is exacerbated by our worries?

Becoming aware of the cause of the stress is important to notice. Can we eliminate or reduce those situations that cause us upset? Can we release those relationships that make us sick? Can we change our attitudes so that we let go of reacting strongly to those people or things that disturb us?

When we see we are stressed, it is always advisable to take a deep breath, and then stop and think about how to release the tension in that moment. Choose an action that will help  to dissipate the tension we feel such as going for a walk or working out at the gym. Consider signing up for  a weekly yoga class or a massage which will help relax the body and the mind. Perhaps talking to a  therapist can make a difference. Whatever it takes, we have to stay in charge of our stress level so we remain healthy, especially as we age. Taking charge of our lives is up to us, for if we don’t, who will?

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