STRESS, STRESS, STRESS….
Stress affects our overall health in many ways.
Some common causes of stress include; relational challenges, change, work pressure, financial instability, and the experience of oppression-and unfortunately, the list goes on and on.
Some common physical manifestations of stress include migraines, insomnia, skin irritation, increased blood pressure, reduced appetite,irritable bowel syndrome,muscle aches, joint pain and inflammation, weakened immunity, and many more. Overtime, overlooked stress can even lead to chronic health conditions and illnesses.
But, living in this world means stressors are inevitable. AND, stress is a survival mechanism from our nervous system. We just want to teach our nervous system how to recover from periods of stress and anxiety (and your brain CAN learn this new skill!)
*Disclaimer: The practices shared in this post are not a remedy to stress caused by violence, poverty, abuse, and discrimination. These tools may offer relief for those struggling under those circumstances, but are not the ultimate solution.
The good news is that our bodies are adaptable, and can develop new ways of responding to our environment when we give them what they need. Take a pause when you can, and see if you can introduce some baby steps towards a stress reset. You won’t necessarily avoid stress in the future, but you’ll improve your body’s response to the stress, improving your overall well being.
With countless triggers of stress, there are plenty of tools to try when you need a remedy. These tools can help tackle stress in two ways: 1) by helping down-regulate the nervous system in real-time stress scenarios, and 2) by increasing your resilience and tolerance to stress with safe exposure to up-regulating practices.
Some practices rooted in Yoga, Nervous System awareness, and holistic nutrition include:
- a regular movement practice
- therapy
- taking 10 deep breaths when feeling overwhelmed
- a regular relaxation/ meditation practice
- cold showers or ice-baths (to raise stress threshold)
- practicing gratitude at the beginning and end of each day
- sleeping 7-9 hours each night
- finding meaningful social interactions
- setting boundaries
- listen to music
- high-energy physical activity when need to release intense emotions (e.x., boxing, HIIT workouts)
- removing clutter
- warm baths
- time in nature
- eating whole, anti-inflammatory, and nutrient-dense foods such as…
* oranges
* olive oil
* pistachios
* grapefruits
* leafy greens
* salmon
* some herbs to consider under the guidance of your physician: Ashwagandha, lemon balm, holy basil
Consider choosing 3-5 items from this list and introducing them to your regular routine. Your mind, body, and spirit will thank you!
If you need support in managing the stress in your life, let’s chat. I offer personalized integrative nutrition coaching, and nervous-system focused yoga-instruction. Reach out to me via email at contact@jessnoreiga.com, on social media @imperfectly_well_blog, and by signing up for email updates below.
Wishing you well,
Jess
