Destress For The Holidays
In today’s fast-paced society, many of us have a microwave mentality; I want it now or I have to do it now! We juggle family obligations, career expectations, and household finances. Especially during holiday season, we should all resist what I call the “Superwoman or Superman Syndrome”. We are not super heroes! It is imperative that we slow down and de-stress, before our bodies and minds begin to break down on us. The millennium mantra that tells us stress is simply a “part of life” is a lie. In reality, negative stress - “distress” leads to disease and ultimately subtracts years from our life. Statistics show that a startling 75% - 90% of all doctor’s visits are stress related. The Centers for Disease Control, in Atlanta, sights a significant link between stress and five of the leading causes of death; heart disease, cancer, lung ailments, accidents and stroke. This is no coincidence. There is a significant mind-body connection. Our body’s survival mechanisms – our automatic defenses kick in we experience stress. “Fight or flight” is an auto response in which our mind tells our body to stand guard. In response to stress, our heart speeds up, our blood pressure rises, our breathing quickens, and sweating increases. These physical responses are immediate, but there are many other stress effects that significantly impact not only our long-term physical health, but mental and emotional health as well. Let’s look at five of our body systems and the direct affect that stress has. I’m a Survivor Our immune system is the main line of defense against diseases like the ones previously mentioned. This is our fighting system. When
we allow ourselves to become stressed we leave ourselves open to attack. We even become more susceptible to illnesses that are easily preventable such as the common cold and flu. Have a Heart Our circulatory system houses our heart, our most vital organ. It allows the rest of our systems to thrive. Our circulatory system cannot do its’ job when we subject ourselves to stress. A rise in our blood pressure indicates that our heart, which is a muscle, has to work twice as hard to do the same job. Increased blood pressure leads to increased risk for heart disease. Hypertension, better known as high blood pressure is a primary link to incidence of heart attack. Brain Power Our brain is the “control center” of the body. When the body is not well rested, our entire nervous system is thrown out of whack. For example, when fatigue sets in we are unable to function at an optimal level. Not only will the frequency of headaches increase, but accidents as well. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration officially recognize stress as a leading cause of worksite injuries. Additionally, the Department of Transportation reports that 71,000 deaths annually can be attributed to fatigue. Skin Deep The skin is our body’s largest organ! It is our outer covering - the very first thing others see. Whatever is going on inside will show itself on the outside. Stress tremendously affects the aging process. One of the first places we show our age is in fact, our face. Stress can also
43
cause a person to break out in hives, similar to the response experienced during an allergic reaction. Break it Down Stress interferes with the digestion system functioning properly. The process of digestion allows us to gain the fuel our bodies need to run efficiently. Stress causes the digestive system to completely shut down. If your stomach is in knots as a result of stress, you can experience one of the two signs that let you know your system is “out of order” - diarrhea or constipation. De-Stress 101 As you can see, stress can wreak havoc on our entire body. But don’t stress - it doesn’t have to! Destress for the Holidays by adding the following 8 keys to your daily routine. Congratulations you are now on your way to reducing stress and adding years to your life. DESTRESS Diet - include plenty of H20, fruits and vegetables in your diet Energize - dance, exercise or do some other physical activity Sleep - get 7 - 8 hours of rest each night Travel - get away, “escape” for a change of scenery Relax - take a “Mental Health” day- can you say SPA! Express yourself - talk it out or try writing in a journal Spiritual - get in touch with your spiritual self Someone – share your time, talent and treasure with others
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
HUAMI MAGAZINE