It's essential to overcome stress

• Posted On: 06/05/2010 19:32:00
• In: General

Most of us probably don't realise the full effect that stress has on our health. Not only can anxiety and tension be very damaging at the time we are experiencing them but they can also cause problems further down the line - emotionally, physically and mentally.

We know a little bit of stress can be good for the body, but we must learn to deal with it correctly before it escalates into something more serious in later life.  A great many degenerative diseases are a result of stress.

And as we get older it is not as easy to recognise the signs of stress.  It is important to get to grips with it while we are still able and before it has long term health complications.

In my own life I have had several experiences which have resulted in my gaining a deeper awareness of stress, allowing me to better understand my patients' stress problems.  As a child I coped with growing up during the Second World War; I could handle the problems of adolescence and the anxieties that cropped up during my student days, and nowadays I can deal with the stresses I experience when patients don't respond the way I wish. What I cannot cope with, however, is injustice. I suffered at the hands of this and the strain attacked my system, particularly emotionally. As the heart controls the emotions, I believe it was that specific problem which resulted in my having a diseased heart.

Life expectancy is much longer nowadays, and this is another reason why we must be careful not to let stress take its toll on our health. It is essential that we learn to understand about the interplay of stress and emotion, and pay great attention to stress, particularly when overworked.  As I always say, prevention is better than cure, and we have to learn the art of relaxation and develop the positive habit of learning to relax.  Relaxation is the natural answer to stress and we should make time in the day to relax.

Deep breathing exercises can result in a calmer and more relaxed mind and I often recommend the Hara Breathing technique. Hara means breath - absolute energy - and this is why breathing control exercises are so important.

Massage therapy is a great way to ease tension and help you relax. Aromatherapy, for example, combines the effects of smell and touch and is considered to be an ancient approach to 'total wellbeing'.

Physical exercise is also an effective way of relieving stress. You don't necessarily have to take up a sport or join the gym; you could simply go for a walk in the fresh air or do some gardening.

The diet should not be forgotten during times of stress. It is all too easy to reach for the snacks that are high in salt, sugar and fat, but try to keep the diet healthy and balanced with plenty of fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. Porridge is an excellent food, as oats have a soothing effect on the nerves and can be extremely effective in strengthening and supporting the nervous system.

Natural anti-anxiety preparations are also very helpful and help you adapt to stress with ease, and naturally uplift your mood.

It is not always easy to overcome stress, yet it is essential that we do, for it is very dangerous to ignore.