Smart-Mums Guide to Beating Stress
 Everyone knows what it feels like to be stressed out, especially mums! Stress is not really what happens to us in our lives, but how we react or respond to certain situations. This doesn't mean that you have to smile through the hard times and pretend everything is fine.
It is important to acknowledge negative emotions, but not let them weight you down or interfere with your life.
Stress is something that can be controlled and prevented, and stress management is a vital part of living a healthy life and being a happy parent.
When you are stressed, you may experience symptoms such as anxiety, sweating, a racing heart, tight muscles, upset stomach, and an inability to think rationally.
Over time, these reactions can have a negative impact on your health, suppressing your immune function, and contributing to problems such as headaches, high blood pressure and cardiovascular problems, hormonal imbalances, insomnia, digestive problems, skin problems, and asthma. Obviously, chronic stress can also affect your relationships and working life.
Regardless of whether you are currently feeling stressed or not, stress affects everyone at some stage in life, and it is important to take preventative measures to ensure you are able to deal with challenging circumstances when they come your way. What are you currently doing in your life to prevent stress and maintain your wellbeing?
If you are already experiencing stress, what are you doing to deal with it? Sometimes people get so used to feeling a certain way that they don't even realise they are in a constant state of stress. Stopping to take stock of your life and your feelings about it, and becoming aware of your physical reactions to situations can help you to find out how much stress is having an impact on your life.
So what can you do about stress?
There are many ways to improve your resistance to stress, and usually a combination of strategies is most effective. Lifestyle changes, improving your diet, and getting adequate exercise can all help.
It is also important to take time for yourself, which can be very hard for busy mothers, but even just taking 10 minutes here and there to relax can help reduce stress. There are also many natural medicines and complementary therapies that can have a significant impact on your ability to deal with stress.
Some effective ways to reduce stress include:
* Relaxation/meditation for 20 minutes on most days, lie down and close your eyes, and just focus on your breathing. 20 minutes goes quickly, so allow yourself to fully experience this relaxation and focus on the present. You may wish to use a relaxation or guided meditation CD if you have trouble switching off.
* Have something to look forward to each week such as a lunch or afternoon tea with friends, a good book or magazine, relaxing on the couch with a DVD, a long bath, a massage, anything that provides a break to a stressful and busy life, and gives you something to feel good about.
* Burn essential oils such as lavender, rosemary, bergamot, sandalwood, and chamomile, or rub some of these into the skin, diluted in a carrier oil. Aromatherapy has a subtle yet significant effect on your mood and helps to create a relaxing atmosphere.
* Take a magnesium supplement magnesium is a mineral that is involved in the relaxation of nerves, blood vessels, and muscles, helping to reduce feelings of anxiety and irritability. If you are experiencing excessive stress, you may need more magnesium, especially if you also suffer with leg cramps, eye twitches, tense muscles, or headaches.
* Get a herbal formula prescribed by a naturopath or herbalist there are many effective herbs that can help your body cope better with stress, including zizyphus, kava, withania, siberian ginseng. Always get herbs prescribed by a professional so you are taking a formula appropriate to your needs.
* Eat more fish, or take a fish oil supplement the omega-3 fats such as those found in fish are essential to the body. They help form cell structures, including nerve cells, and may help balance out your mood.
* Reduce your intake of caffeine this is a stimulant, and when you are stressed you are already over-stimulated.
* Use affirmations and positive thinking Your attitude and thoughts have a profound effect on what happens in your life. Try repeating positive affirmations such as I am calm and relaxed throughout the day.
Remember, stress is something that can be managed and prevented. There are many strategies you can incorporate into your life, and many natural ways of improving your health and resistance to stress.
This article is courtesy of Australian Naturopath Julie Merrick from Intrahealth Naturopathic Clinic, she is the author of the ebook 'Stop Stress! And get your life back!', which contains all the information, tools, and resources you need to stop stress from interfering with your life. If you want to be calmer, more focused, and happier in your life, this ebook will show you how! Click Here to get your Copy! |