Please stress relievers, take us away to that relaxation state of mind!

Stress relievers are a great way to relax. Stress happens by the way you react physically and emotionally to change.

We all live with stress, you can choose to manage it in a positive (eustress) or a negative (distress) way.

Stress can be from the sense of concentration with a new and challenging situation or a vague sense of anxiety you feel after “one of those days”. Actions of negative stress can be that you are mad, complaining, yelling, rushing, blaming, can’t focus, rude, impatient, drinking alcohol or not taking care of yourself.

Stress becomes negative and destructive when you stay geared-up, constant and unrelieved, can’t or don’t relax.

Choosing positive stress can help you to concentrate, focus, perform, and reach peak efficiency. It can help you through a speech. You can help relieve stress by taking the time to relax and enjoy the achievements that you do. When you are constantly stressing, positive or negative stress, it can be harmful to you.

What can help with stress?

Go here for a Natural Stress Relief Primer

Practice simple relaxation response techniques that will allow you to build up physical and emotional reserves to handle upcoming challenges.

Developing a positive attitude and lifestyle...

• Body, mind and spirit work
• Exercise
• Good nutrition
• Proper rest
• Taking care of yourself and others

Nutrients that are used more when you are stressed:

• B Vitamins are for the nervous system, protein, fat, and carbohydrate metabolism for energy, your skin and hair (depleted by sugar and alcohol also)
• Vitamin C is needed for healing, resistance to infections, make blood vessels firm and for proper absorption of iron (depleted by smoking also)
• Zinc is needed for healing, resistance to infections, regulating hormones, proper functioning of sexual organs (depleted by perspiration and for women during their menstrual cycle)
• Iron is needed for making hemoglobin for red blood cells which prevents anemia and fatigue, resistance to infection (depleted by caffeine)

Nutrients that help be stress resistant:

• Calcium is important for proper muscle function and helps blood to clot(depleted by soda {phosphorus})
• Fiber helps for proper functioning of the digestion and elimination process and to lower bad cholesterol

The symptoms from deficiencies can be a stress on your body. You can see how important it is to get these nutrients for support. Examples of food that are bad for you and can cause stress to your body:

1. Artificial fruit drinks ( contains sugar, artificial flavor and colorings)
2. Processed meats (bacon, corned beef, salami, sausage, hot dogs, bologna)
3. Breakfast cereals (ones that are full of sugar, refined and have chemical preservatives)
4. Milk chocolate (sugar, caffeine and saturated fats)
5. Donuts (white flour and sugar fried in animal fat)
6. Liver (it is an animal’s filter that collects the insecticides and poisons)
7. Many snack chips

   Any foods that are loaded with white sugar or artificial sweeteners. Sodas have 12 teaspoons of sugar per can and also contain phosphorus.

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   It has been suggested that 75% of all illnesses are stress related.

   Feeling negative stress:

   Fatigue, less energy, irritable, angry or short-tempered. Aches and pains, getting sick often, can’t get rid of sickness. Are you working hard and accomplishing less? Sadness you can’t explain? Forgetfulness? Disoriented when the activity of the day comes to a halt? You don’t feel like you have any more to give? Difficulty with routine things?

   Changes in life are life stressors:

   Examples are:

   • Death, divorce, separation, marriage, arguments, moving, eating or sleeping habits, traveling, Christmas
   • Injury or illness, pregnancy, sex difficulties, new family member
   • Family member leaving, In-laws, school, living conditions, personal habits
   • Work related - fired, retirement, new position, responsibilities, boss, hours
   • Financial state - foreclosure, bankruptcy, closing a business, taxes

   Clutter and noise can cause stress. When you are not using your strengths, when you have something to do and do not know how to do it or something that has to get done.

   Negative Thought Patterns that can cause stress:

   • Critical of performance
   • Feel like you are never good enough
   • Helpless to change
   • Hard to hope for the best
   • Empty, no meaning in life
   • Good fortune is just luck
   • Little control
   • Behaviors from growing up
   • Uncomfortable with compliments and praise
   • Guilty over past experiences
   
   
   

   We need to know how to be positive when dealing with stressful situations and how to recover from them. You want to be active in the situations and have control of the stressors.

   Ways to be Positive when stressed:

   • Balance work with fun
   • Take control and have plans
   • Maturity; it comes from a safe and secure environment
   • Be motivated and innovative
   • Be sure to communicate and have teamwork
   • Have dealt with your past; any unresolved conflicts and forgiveness
   • Eliminate sarcasm, criticism and being judgmental
   • Being a good listener and a resource
   • Living well
   • Time management
   • Willing to change, take risks and learn new things
   • Knowing that if I keep doing something the same way, I will get the same result
   • Avoid hassles
   • Find help , support systems
   • See yourself successful before you go into a situation

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   Great ways to Relax:

   Outside with Nature

   Mental Imagery, meditation

   Pictures

   Music

   Organization

   Lighting

   Hobbies

   Laughing

   Breathing and Energy Exercises

   Exercise (it is recommended to see a physician before starting):

   Benefits from exercise: reduces the risk of heart disease,improves immune system response, energy level and sleep,stronger, firmer body and weight control, better focus, mental concentration, less anxiety and hostility.

   It can help improve the body’s absorption of nutrients and an overall feeling of well being. Slowly go into your exercise to warm up, make it fun, find someone to do it with. It helps to have a schedule, your routine should become more automatic.

   When you are feeling down:

   Don’t make any major changes or decisions

   Take care of yourself

   Enjoy hobbies to get your mind off of your stress

   Talk about something else

   Be patient, things will change

   Be aware of when you feel stressed

   Pay attention to negative stress building up

   Negative self-talk and habits

   Try to avoid activities and people who drain your energy.

   Check out my next page on stress relief. There's more information about herbal relief for stress and what you can do to feel better physically and emotionally!

   

   
   
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