The biggest epidemic of the 21st century is the stress epidemic. It indirectly kills thousands of people every year. We have tried to tame it, to see it as a natural part of our lives. Unfortunately, the more of it there is, the greater the risk of many health problems.
Don’t tame it
Stress cannot be befriended. Of course, there is a kind of temporary nerves before an important speech, an exam, childbirth, an important life event. This is completely normal and rather harmless phenomenon. However, stress in our lives today is present to a much greater extent. We are constantly stressed by work, family life. Muscle tensions, headaches, heart palpitations, etc. cause a new project at work, planning a child’s education, looking for a vacation.
We are overstimulated, doing many things at the same time, and our mind is on constant rotation. The result? Muscle tension is just a painful start. Under the influence of stress, cortisol is released, the concentration of which, sustained for too long in the body, destroys, among other things, the neurons responsible for thinking and memory. Prolonged stress can lead to anxiety and depression. No mention is made of the role that stress can play in the development of many other diseases. However, there is good news – stress can be won!
Small steps
You don’t have to immediately quit city life, buy a cabin in the woods and unplug. What counts in the fight against stress are small steps that, if repeated regularly, can eliminate unhealthy stress from your life or neutralize it whenever needed. Where to start? With simple, enjoyable rituals. You don’t have to reach for everything right away, set your sights on 1-2 habits that you will try to implement into your daily life. Try, test, look for your own path.
For starters, relaxing baths, massage, swimming – all such activities help combat the most visible symptom of stress – muscle tension.
- Relaxing oils – lavender oil, citrus oils (orange, tangerine, bergamot), frankincense oil, as well as special relaxing, calming blends –can be helpful in combating tension, but also in quieting the mind. Depending on your mood and need, you can diffuse selected oils in the morning or evening to support the body in the fight against stress, soothe nerves, great oils also work as a bath additive; properly prepared blends can also be used for massage.
- Breathing exercises – proper management of inhalation and exhalation and combining this with tensing and relaxing of muscles can significantly help get rid of muscle tension, as well as relieve a confused mind from a flurry of thoughts.
- Meditation, yoga, Pilates – all kinds of physical activities based on working with the breath and relaxing the body, which can also be accompanied by work in the area of the mind and learning to “let go” are extremely valuable support for the body fighting stress.