Cranking Up the Stress

Stress is inevitable. Stress comes from many sources: relationships (or lack of), work (or lack of), health challenges, daily overwhelm, education, finances, balancing fun activities, etc. In all our wisdom, we do everything we can to lower our stress, however, far too often we unintentionally crank up our stress in ways that are entirely preventable!

First of all, to handle stress, we need certain physical and mental resources. How we acquire that is significantly dependent upon our physical and mental health, and how we nourish them. A body and mind that is depleted will not have the reserves to handle stress. Far too often we try to make up for the deficiencies by slamming the body with false pick-me-ups that may work at the time; however, they frequently result in further diminishing an already compromised system.

These false pick-me-ups include things such as sugar, coffee, energy drinks, energy supplements, drugs, participating in explicit movies or internet sites, and the list goes on. The ingestible forms could so easily be exchanged for things that build up the body’s resources, rather than tearing them down, thereby enabling better stress control. For most, that just takes a little bit of tweaking.

For instance, substituting coffee for healthy herbal teas, such as ginseng or astragalus can lift you up, without depleting you. Eating healthy meals with ample amounts of veggies, and quality proteins are building, rather than going for the junk carbs and fast foods that tend to deplete more than build.

Getting ample sleep rejuvenates the system. According to the CDC, an estimated 60 million Americans are sleep deprived. Racing thoughts frequently keep them awake, but is also controllable with simple exercises. Speaking of exercise, even short walks around the office or neighborhood are helpful in reducing stress.

What we do with our life makes a difference. If we are self-absorbed, stress tends to be higher. By contrast, those who serve others actually benefit by feeling good about their accomplishments, and that reduces the impact of stress. Many times, it also helps to gain perspective when you help someone who has greater challenges than yourself. Along that line of thinking is to express gratefulness. The more we appreciate what we have, the better we feel overall.

Of course other things like eliminating unnecessary commitments, getting things done in good timing rather than procrastinating (and feeling the continued pressure on your shoulders), organizing your surroundings and time better, controlling what you can and letting go of those things you have no control over, simplifying your life, and creating a more relaxed environment, are all classics that help with stress.

Dealing with health issues will also allow for more energy to handle stress. Using acupuncture, herbal medicine, food as medicine, etc. are critical components for getting healthy.

Life is full of stress. If we do the right things to reduce the impact of stress on us, and not crank up the stress by doing things that deplete us, our response to stress will be much healthier.

© 2013 Holly A. Carling, O.M.D., L.Ac., Ph.D.

Dr. Holly Carling

Dr. Holly Carling

Dr. Holly Carling is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine, Licensed Acupuncturist, Doctor of Naturopathy, Clinical Nutritionist and Master Herbologist with nearly four decades of experience. Dr. Carling is a “Health Detective,” she looks beyond your symptom picture and investigates WHY you are experiencing your symptoms in the first place. Dr. Carling considers herself a “professional student” – she has attended more than 600 post-secondary education courses related to health and healing. Dr. Carling gives lectures here in the U.S. and internationally and has been noted as the “Doctor’s Doctor”. When other healthcare practitioners hit a roadblock when treating their patients nutritionally, Dr. Carling is who they call. Dr. Carling is currently accepting new patients and offers natural health care services and whole food nutritional supplements in her Coeur d’ Alene clinic.

Medical/Health Disclaimer:

The information provided in this article or podcast should not be construed as personal medical advice or instruction. No action should be taken based solely on the contents of this article or podcast. Readers/listeners should consult appropriate health professionals on any matter relating to their health and well-being. The information and opinions provided here are believed to be accurate and sound, based on the best judgment available to the author, but readers/listeners who fail to consult appropriate health authorities assume the risk of any injuries.

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