Stress … I, like everyone else, deal with it every day. Or, if you were to talk to my doctor and see my lab work, I don’t deal with it, at least not well. My cortisol levels are off the chart and my doctor has warned me of frightening consequences if I don’t deal with my stress in a better way than I do. She’s recommended meditation, yoga and a biofeedback-type program called HeartMath. I’m a dismal failure at all of them, mostly because I am not consistent in doing them. Life happens, you know? And then I get too stressed out to do anything other than try to find an immediate solution to what it is that’s causing me stress. It’s a vicious cycle. I’m sure many of you can relate.
Often when I get stressed, my back goes into spasm. I have a bad back to begin with; stress exacerbates it. How does stress affect you? Does it make you physically ill too?
Stress is not always a bad thing. It does serve a positive purpose, explains Richard Purvis, a health and wellness practitioner and author of Recalibrate: Six Secrets to Resetting Your Age.
“It can keep us alert and prepares us to avoid danger,” Purvis says. “But stress becomes a negative factor when a person faces continuous challenges without any time mixed in for relief or relaxation.”
As a result, he says, people become overworked, and stress-related anxiety and illness can occur. The strain leads them to suffer from such ailments as headaches, upset stomach, elevated blood pressure, chest pain and problems sleeping.
Purvis says a few examples of how stress can play havoc on our bodies include:
- Musculoskeletal system. When we experience stress, it’s natural for our muscles to tense up. “It’s the body’s way of guarding against injury and pain,” Purvis says. Usually, the muscles relax once the stressful event passes. But chronic stress keeps the muscles in a constant state of guardedness. “When muscles are taut and tense for long periods of time other reactions in the body are triggered,” he says. Chronic muscle tension in the shoulders, neck and head can lead to tension-type headaches and migraines. (And back spasms, as in my case.)
- Respiratory system. Stress causes people to breathe harder. “That’s not a problem for most people,” Purvis says. “But if you suffer from asthma or a lung disease such as emphysema, getting essential oxygen can be difficult.” He says some studies show that acute stress events – such as the death of a loved one – can trigger asthma attacks in which the airway between the nose and the lungs constrict. Also, rapid breathing associated with stress – or hyperventilation – can result in a panic attack in some people.
- Gastrointestinal system. Sometimes people who are stressed will eat much more than usual. Sometimes they will eat much less. Neither is healthy. “You can get heartburn or acid reflux if you eat more food or different types of food, or if you increase how much alcohol you drink or tobacco you use,” Purvis says. When you’re stressed, the brain sends alert sensations to the stomach. Your stomach can react with “butterflies,” nausea or pain. “Severe stress can cause vomiting, diarrhea or constipation,” he says. “If your stress becomes chronic, you might develop ulcers or severe stomach pain.”
And, now that I’m stressed about what stress is doing to me, what’s to be done to deal with it? Purvis points out that stress is a natural occurrence in life and happens to everyone.
“Since you can’t avoid your job, bills, or other life experiences, the best thing to do is learn to manage stress,” he says. “You won’t avoid stress entirely, but it is possible to minimize the effects by eating healthy, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and taking care of yourself in general.”
Want to try HeartMath, which my doctor recommends? Here’s the link for you to explore: https://www.heartmath.com
And, here’s my interview with Devi Brown, a meditation and wellness guru. https://www.everbeautiful.com/2017/21220/meditation-101-with-devi-brown-of-karma-bliss-everything-you-want-to-know
And, here’s a post on things to do to manage your stress. https://www.everbeautiful.com/2017/21760/7-techniques-to-keep-your-thought-life-healthy
And, here’s where you can buy Richard Purvis’s book:
About Richard Purvis
Richard Purvis, author of Recalibrate: Six Secrets to Resetting Your Age, is a health and wellness practitioner with more than 30 years of dedicated experience in nutrition, exercise, anti-aging and overall wellness. He is the current CEO of Skin Moderne Inc., and was founder of such wellness companies as Nutrimax, Nutritbrands and Skin Nutrition. He also was co-founder of Noggin Nosh.
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