The Art of Stress

Have you mastered it?

I personally have suffered from stress related issues more times than I can count. I think of myself like a jailhouse lawyer of stress; I’ve had to work so hard on my own case, I can now help you with yours…

Stress is both physiological and psychological. We all experience stress every day.  Daily demands such as responsibilities, changes, relationships, illness and money can cause stress. You might worry about your child coming home late … work deadlines looming… or a multitude of frightening little imaginings throughout the day.

For the most part, they are just passing thoughts and would be no big deal, but stress is cumulative. You become like a sink with the drain plugged.  Even a little drip will eventually cause the sink to overflow.

Here are a few simple things that you can do right away, without having to quit your job and move to a cabin in the woods…

Use “adaptogens” herbs, which condition the nervous system to deal with a broad range of stressors and quickly help the body return to a state of balance. I take at least one everyday and have found them to be a lifesaver! My favourites include Ashwagandha, Tulsi (Holy Basil), Ginseng and Rhodiola

Take Deep Breaths three times a day – Your breath is one of your most fundamental and potent tools to create instant calm. When you breathe deeply into the bottom half of your lungs, you send a message to your limbic brain to reduce stress-producing hormones and generate relaxation throughout your whole body.

Take five deep breaths, inhaling to the count of 4, holding to the count of 4 and exhaling to the count of 8. If you can do this before meals, it really helps with weight loss as well.

Guided Relaxation – Taking time out to relax, even for just five minutes a day can have a profound effect on your health and well-being. Click here to download a free 14 minute guided relaxation and confidence MP3 by Caroline Cranshaw. My gift to you…

Acupressure Points – Applying pressure to certain acupressure points, on your hands especially, can elicit rapid anxiety reduction and an immediate confidence boost. In our fingers and fingertips, there are many concentrated nerve root endings that are in constant communication with our nervous system.

Panic Reset Button – Hand Position: Touch your thumb to the knuckle on the side of your middle finger. Then move your thumb back toward your palm, feeling for a soft spot or slight indentation in between. Apply medium pressure there.

This a great point to use when feeling nervous or overwhelmed, especially before a stressful meeting or public speaking. According to neuroscientist Sonia Sequeira, PhD, this spot touches a point that correlates to a nerve that runs from the chest to the tip of the middle finger. The meridian is related to your heart area. When you apply pressure to that point it helps to regulate blood pressure and reduce anxiety.*

*Source for Acupressure Points: Success Under Stress: Powerful Tools for Staying Calm, Confident, and Productive When the Pressure’s On by Sharon Melnick Ph.D.  p. 133-134