Stress, one of the favorite buzzwords of the late twentieth century, describes our reaction to over-whelming physical, mental, or emotional stimuli. Stress can be brought on by a sudden event, such as a job loss or death of a relative, or it can be a more chronic condition brought on by daily aggravations and trying to meet the expectations of others-or ourselves. Typically, the more stressed a person feels, the greater the range of mental and physical symptoms he or she will experience.
Each of us experiences stress differently. One person may feel extreme stress working at a relatively low-pressure job, while another person may juggle a full-time job, parenthood, and night school and feel only mild stress.
Stress is actually your body’s way of preparing you for an emergency. When your brain perceives danger, your pituitary gland secretes adrenocorticotropic hormone, which in turn causes your adrenal gland to release hormones called adrenaline and cortisol. These two hormones immediately cause your pulse to quicken, your muscles to tense, and your blood pressure to rise. These changes are important because during a crisis, you may need more blood in your large muscles, so your heart beats faster. To lessen the chance of bleeding to death in case of an injury, blood is directed away from your stomach and skin and your body secretes clotting chemicals into your blood. To give you quick energy, fat and sugar are released into the bloodstream. Other changes include pupil dilation for better vision, increased perspiration to keep cool, and faster breathing to increase the oxygen in the blood.
Though this “fight-or-flight” response helped cave dwellers survive, it doesn’t work so well in modern times, when the stress-triggering situation can be on going-as in the case of financial hard ship, a taxing job, or the daily pushes and pulls of work and family. When there’s no letup to the stress, your body stays in this heightened “state of emergency,” making you vulnerable to various health conditions, including, in extreme cases, hypertension, heart attack, and stroke.
Signs and Symptoms
- Stiff shoulders, neck and/or jaw
- Backache
- Intermittent headaches
- Gastric upsets
- Appetite loss or increased appetite
- Insomnia
- Acne eruptions
- Shortness of breath
- Anxiousness
- Fatigue
- Temporary memory impairment
- Increased susceptibility to infectious illnesses
- Tooth grinding
- Feelings of resentment
- Sense of hopelessness
- Irritability
- Reclusiveness
- Inability to concentrate
Conventional Medical Treatment
A physical exam, a complete list of symptoms, and a detailed lifestyle history are generally all your physician needs to diagnose excess stress and rule out a mental health problem, such as anxiety disorder. Treatment depends on the person, but generally involves removing some stressors. Stress reduction techniques and lifestyle modification are usually part of a therapy plan, and in many cases, psychotherapy or counseling is recommended or required. Healthcare professionals may prescribe some natural remedies for more severe symptoms or chronic conditions. These medications reduce stress hormones adrenaline and cortisol and improve treatment outcomes. However, the products should contain a combination of safe and well-researched ingredients, such as formulas by Chemical Planet and BrainFit.
Complementary and Alternative Treatments
Nutrition and Supplementation
Avoid foods that place stress on the system, such as processed foods, artificial sweeteners, carbonated drinks, chocolate, fried foods, junk foods, fatty meats, sugar, white flour products, chips and similar snack foods, and foods containing preservatives. Avoid caffeine, as it contributes to nervousness and can disrupt sleep patterns. Eliminate dairy products from your diet for three weeks. Reintroduce them slowly and watch for returning symptoms of your “nervous” condition. Alcohol, tobacco, and mood-altering drugs may provide temporary relief from stress, but overall, they are harmful to your health, and actually make stress worse.
Your diet should be rich in raw foods. Fresh fruits and vegetables supply valuable vitamins and minerals as well as flavonoids, which help neutralize dangerous free radicals.
Nutritionists recommend the following daily supplements:
Most Important
- vitamin B complex (50 mg)-for proper functioning of the nervous system, supplemented with vitamin B5 (500 mg)
- vitamin C with bioflavonoids (3000 to 10,000 mg) essential to adrenal gland function; stress depletes these hormones, which are the “anti-stress” hormones
- adrenal and thymus live cell therapy
- Hemp Oil – Multiple latest reports have shown that hemp oil can help with many forms of stress and anxiety, such as social anxiety disorder and PTSD.
- phosphatidyl serine (1500 mg, in divided doses, with food)
Also Recommended
- calcium (2000 mg)-lost during stress reactions
- magnesium (500 to 1000 mg)-deficiency is common in highly stressed people and can lead to anxiety, fear, even hallucinations; may cause loose bowels
- fiber (as directed on label)-improves bowel function; stress often causes bowel irritability
- potassium (99 mg)-depleted during stress reactions
(For an acute condition, take supplements until your symptoms subside. If symptoms persist, seek the advice of your health care provider. For a chronic condition, consult your healthcare provider regarding the duration of treatment.)
Ayurvedic Medicine
Stress can induce an imbalance in any of the doshas (vat a, pitta, or kapha), depending on the person’s makeup, say Ayurvedic practitioners. They often recommend meditation, relaxing baths, and massage to alleviate and control stress. They also may advise taking gota kola or the Ayurvedic formulas Genforte and Mentat.
Ayurvedic products are available at many health food stores and Indian pharmacies.
Bodywork and Somatic Practices
Stress responds to all bodywork and somatic practices, especially when you also employ other stress reduction methods.
Chiropractic
Many patients find they are much more relaxed and less stressed following a chiropractic adjustment. The chiropractor may be able to decrease tension and pain in affected muscles, using a combination of soft tissue massage, moist heat application, and electro muscle stimulation.
In many patients, stress manifests itself in the form of headaches, neck tension and pain, or back pain.