2 minute read
Are We Having Fun Yet? Welcome to the Season of Stress!
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By Dr. Brandy Zachary, DC, AFMCP with Body Love Cafe
Whether it is fun (yay, we are traveling to the snow!) or relatives (my mother-in-law always hates my cooking) or societal pressure (must get the perfect family photo for the holiday newsletter), your body will interpret it all the same as a STRESS overload!
In fact, one medical research article found that your “perception” of a situation led to physiological changes in your body regardless of how others around you perceived the same event.
Specifically, the research found that your interpretation that an event was stressful led to an increase in cortisol (one of your stress hormones), which led to a decrease of Secretory Immunoglobulin A (SIgA, one of the first lines of defense in mucous membranes) which led to a weakened immune response and then an infection.
Translated:
The thought/feeling/emotion/worry about your relative criticizing you can lead to a cold.
Yes, for real.
And remember, this is also “positive” or “fun” stress because if you spike a cortisol response, your body can not interpret whether this is from joy or danger and will merely respond accordingly. Hormones react quickly in the body. I like to describe them as “Gmail” because they are rapid chemical messengers tripping off a chain reaction of responses throughout your endocrine system.
So the answer is to just relax, right?
How many times has someone who is stressed heard that and just wanted to smack the person saying it? If only it were that simple?!?
Here are a few quick tips to survive the holiday stress and keep in mind it’s a work in progress, allow yourself much grace!
1. First Line of Stress Defense:
Have a “toolbox” of stress-relieving strategies at the ready that work just for you and don’t be afraid to use them. Some of my patients’ personal favorites include fast-acting herbs (ex. Kava, CBD, Gaba) and calming techniques (ex. boxed breathing, chanting, vagal stimulation).
2. Plan & Have An Out:
The more challenging the situation the better it is to have clear boundaries, limits on time and own what you can and cannot do. Don’t be afraid to say “no” or cancel if that would better support your sanity. We are all overscheduled and sometimes staying home is exactly what is needed.
3. When Is It Something More?:
Some Holiday Stress is to be expected, but if this is a pattern that leads to panic attacks, emotional eating, passive-aggressive behavior or crying jags then perhaps it’s time to dig deeper. You might need more support at home or a good therapist or a functional exam including hormone levels. There’s no shame in asking for help, and so many great techniques and practitioners are available to support you!
Learn more at www.BodyLoveCafe.com and click the “Videos” tab for free classes on Stress, Hormones, and Brain Health.
