Stress relief is on the way!

There are stress relief skills to learn so you can reduce the output of stress hormones and limit chronic stress. They can help you solve problems intelligently and manage life’s difficulties with excitement and confidence. This requires action and some practicing.

When our body releases stress hormones, it tends to shut down our higher reasoning and causes us to act on gut instinct. The fastest way to stress relief and to restore calm and clear thinking is to breathe in deeply thinking "I am" and exhale fully thinking "relaxed", repeat this process until you start to feel more calm. This can help you with your stress level.

Stress relief by using Adaptagens:

Russian researchers found that Eleuthero root helped people adapt to stressful situations. Adaptagens reduce the output of Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) from the pituitary and Cortisol from the adrenals, using the same feedback loop the body normally uses to stop the production of stress hormones.

By reducing the stress response, results are clearer thinking, improved sleep, enhanced immune function, and better physical and mental performance.

Russian research showed that Eleuthero root helped athletes to perform better, cosmonauts to avoid space sickness, reduced incidences of sickness in factory workers and secretaries made fewer mistakes.

Other herbs that have been discovered to have Adaptagenic properties for stress relief include Korean and American Ginseng, Schizandra, Suma, Rhodiola, Gotu Kola and Gymnostema.

I like using Nature's Sunshine products for the pure quality and the way they are blended for the best product.

• Adaptamax - A general Adaptagenic that will improve health and overall ability to cope with stress. Helps reduce stress, improve immunity and counteract fatigue to maintain a relax and positive mood during periods of stress.
• Nervous Fatigue Formula - Helps with the feeling of being tired and stressed during the day, "burned out" from nervous exhaustion and stress. It counteracts moodiness and irritability, helps improve mental concentration, eases feelings of anxiety (especially feeling tension or pressure in the chest) and promotes restful sleep and improved energy.
• Stress-J - Can be taken during the day to relax muscle tension, improve digestion and elimination, enhance mental concentration, lower blood pressure and heart rate. It helps slow down sympathetic nervous system activity while increasing parasympathetic activity which helps you unwind.
• Suma Combination - Suma is blended with Eleuthero root, brain and memory enhancing Ginkgo and Gotu Kola. It provides energy and helps with thinking clearly when you’re under stress.
• Mineral Chi Tonic - A combination of Colloidal trace minerals with Chinese Adaptagenic herbs. Improves overall health, energy and stamina. It helps maintain good health, emotional balance while under stress and supports healthy adrenal function. I think we are all deficient in minerals, we do not get enough and our bodies use what we have.
• Adrenal Support - Designed to feed and rebuild depleted adrenal glands. This one is not an Adaptagen but it can help overcome the effects of chronic stress or "burn out" by supporting the adrenal glands. It can be helpful for fatigue, post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep disturbances and chronic inflammation. It also can move protein through the system and regulate insulin production.

• Distress Remedy - Edward Bach, an English homeopath developed flower essences as a way to help people heal emotionally. One of his blends, Rescue Remedy, contains five flowers and was used to treat shock. Nature’s Sunshine’s contains the five flower essences in Rescue Remedy and other homeopathics that can help you learn how to stay calm during a crisis.
• B-vitamins - When we are feeling stressed we are often tempted to eat more sugar and refined carbohydrates. This is because carbohydrates increase the levels of serotonin, a mood-elevating chemical in our brain. Unfortunately, these refined carbohydrates also spike our blood sugar resulting in a big "let down" a few hours later and also deplete our reserves of B-vitamins and other nutrients.

  B-vitamins are important for the nervous system and for energy production. Refined carbohydrates increase our anxiety and nervousness when we are depleted in B-vitamins. Whole grains and unrefined sugars are better for satisfying the carbohydrate cravings and taking a good anti-stress vitamin and mineral supplement such as Nature’s Sunshine’s Nutri-Calm. Nutri-Calm has B-complex vitamins that our nerves need to help stay calm and relaxed while facing problems of the day. It also contains vitamin C which is important for adrenal function and other nutrients that can give you energy while staying relaxed.

Water

The slightest dehydration can affect your nervous system by increasing your level of anxiety and nervousness. Drinking clean, pure water can help you feel calmer and sleep better. Drinking sodas, coffee, tea, energy drinks and alcohol that are loaded with sugar and caffeine will add to your feelings of stress and anxiety and they definitely do not help with stress relief!

Sleep

Sleep is vital to our health and our ability to deal with life’s problems.

• Herbal Sleep - is a combination of hops, valerian and passion flower that can give you stress relief and help you relax and get to sleep.
• Kava Kava - can help relax muscles and reduce feelings of anxiety.
• Melatonin Extra - can help with sleep. Melatonin is the chemical messenger that promotes sleep.Melatonin is a hormone produced in the pineal gland, a small gland in the brain, that helps regulate sleep and wake cycles. Natural melatonin levels decline gradually with age. Some older adults produce very small amounts of melatonin or none at all. Melatonin dietary supplements are generally safe in low doses for short-term and long-term use.

  Children and pregnant or nursing women should see a health professional. Do not drive or operate machinery when taking melatonin if it causes drowsiness.

If you wake up in the middle of your sleep, try the Adaptagens Nervous Fatigue Formula. Adrenal Support may also be helpful.

Physical activity. Any enjoyable physical activity will help burn off stress hormones and have you feeling relaxed.

Good news! According to Dr. Paul Pearsall, author of The Pleasure Prescription , a pleasurable experience does more good for the body than a stressful experience does harm. Pleasure enhances health, energy and emotional well-being. It causes muscles to relax and even triggers healing.

Dr. Pearsall believes that many people are sick because they lack pleasure in their lives and have so little stress relief. So rather than waste your time trying to avoid stress, plan time and do something for pleasure. Don’t forget to include your senses, touch, see, smell, hear and taste.

Stress relief management is an important skill for everyone. The techniques listed on this page can help you. Some forms of stress and trauma may require professional assistance, such as counseling to help overcome. I did both and I couldn’t have done the counseling without the support of the supplements. They helped me through it and showed me the feeling to have when going through life.

These are great ways to cope, I feel fortunate to be able to use these when needed.