Stress is, unfortunately, pretty much everywhere and, even more, affects pretty much everyone. And, while there are times that stress can benefit us by improving performance or helping us to focus it is, by and large, not a great thing to have in our lives. That’s because stress can cause (or make worse) a whole host of illnesses, including anxiety, depression, hypertension (high blood pressure), and heart attacks…just to name a few.So, how do we handle stress? How do we get it under control? Well, the first step is to really analyze your current situation so that you can pinpoint where your stress is coming from (Work? Money? Relationship issues?, etc). Once you’ve identified your stressors, you’ll need to figure out ways to remove them from your life AND work towards replacing them with a healthy alternative.
You can start the process by:
- Thinking Positive – We know, we know. It’s a lot more difficult than it sounds – especially when we’re surrounded by negativity all day long. However, it can be done! By retraining your brain to focus on the good as opposed to the bad in any given situation you can reduce your stress immensely.
- Focusing on YOU – This is a big one, and yet it’s something we so often push to the side. But, by spending just 10 to 20 minutes each day in personal reflection/meditation – relaxing and concentrating on YOU – you can help re-center your focus and de-stress your day. For some individuals this means sitting by the fire with a cup of tea; for others, it involves time outdoors in the garden or on a walk.
- Human Interaction and Touch – So much of our lives are lived “virtually” these days that we often go long periods of time with no human touch whatsoever. And, you know what? THAT’S NOT GOOD FOR US! Hug your spouse, significant other, children, friends, family, etc – it will benefit you both! See a masseuse – the therapeutic properties of regular massage (pain relief, a reduction in anxiety and depression, better sleep, etc) have been proven time and again over the years.
And, of course, see your chiropractor! Your chiropractor is tasked with ensuring that your body is functioning at its fullest potential – that it’s been adjusted properly and is performing at its best. A body that’s working properly will be able to respond to stressful situations (when they do occur) much better than a body that’s not at its best.
If you’re interested in making chiropractic care a part of your stress management, please don’t hesitate to give Fletcher Chiropractic a call!