Imagine your life stress-free for 24 hours.
Well, today, November 6th, is National Stress Awareness Day.
And hopefully, it is an opportunity to remove the stress from your life for at least one day!
It’s a good time to examine your life, find out where all the stressors lie, and start taking steps to remove them or find ways to reduce them.
Whether it’s work, school, family, money, or all of the above, everyone has some amount of stress they have to deal with.
Even the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States has listed stress as a workplace hazard.
Stress Is A Normal Part Of Life
Even positive changes can produce stress; like getting a promotion, having a child, or buying your first home.
It’s a necessary and natural part of who we are.
It helps us take action in emergencies, get away from danger, heightens our senses, and can allow us to temporarily perform superhuman feats.
Stress Becomes A Problem When…
When your stress is constant and you’re unable to give your body a break from it, it becomes distress or chronic stress.
Chronic stress has been linked to the 6 leading causes of death [1]:
- Heart disease
- Cancer
- Lung Ailments
- Accidents
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- And suicide
Also, many people who are constantly stressed out seek relief in unhealthy habits like overeating, alcohol, drugs, and other unsafe behaviors.
What are the warning signs of chronic stress?
- Dizziness or feeling “out of it”
- Teeth grinding
- Recurring headaches
- Muscle tension in your face, neck, or shoulders
- Problems sleeping
- Racing heartbeat or heart palpitations
- Upset stomach
- Sexual difficulties
If any of these sound familiar to you, take advantage of National Stress Awareness Day and take some time for yourself.
Set aside some time to look over your life and identify the things that are causing your stress.
Like many, you are probably here to learn more about how to live a long and healthy life.
One key ingredient in longevity is reducing chronic stress.
Tips for reducing stress:
While it’s not easy in our crazy, never ending world, it’s important that you take some time for yourself.
Some of the best ways to give your body a break from chronic stress won’t cost you anything:
Take a 30 minute walk: Exercise releases endorphins and lets your body clean up the stress hormones and clear your head.
Keep a positive attitude: Your body reacts to what you’re thinking. Staying positive tells your body that things are going well and makes it less likely to go into a fight or flight response.
Make time for your hobbies and interests: Taking time for yourself and doing things that you are passionate about are great for the mind and soul. One less Netflix movie is worth it!
If you’re in a time of your life where you need a little bit of help, that’s okay.
There’s always Bupleurum & Dragon Bone. It’s a combination of herbs formulated specifically to calm and ground you, leaving you feeling more relaxed, centered, and able to cope with your day.
To a happy stress free day,
Dr. George
