Although ‘stress’ is seen as a negative emotion, it actually plays an important role in our survival. It’s the body’s response to threats and dangerous situations. It can get us motivated, get us to perform better and even save our life.
When your body recognises a threat, your brain releases hormones, your body responds by increasing the amount of oxygen and nutrients to your muscles, brain and heart. You are now primed to think and act swiftly. This is called the fight or flight response. You are ready and able to fight the threat or run away from it, your body will return to a state of calm when the danger is over.
These responses are normal every now and again and don’t cause any serious harm. However, frequent bouts caused by life’s demands will eventually become harder to deal with and may become a chronic stress situation.
Stressful situations can come from many sources.
External
Relationship problems
Over work
Financial worries
Business demands
Concerns over children
Moving house
Parenthood
Internal
Feeling Negative – feeding ourselves negative self talk
Unrealistic expectations – of self and others
Trying to live up to your own perfectionism
Unable to accept uncertainty
The signs and symptoms of overload can affect the mind, body and behaviour in many ways. The longer that we endure stressful situations, lifestyles, responsibilities, work schedules, etc., your body is reacting as if it was dealing with a life or death scenario; and this response system may well be switched on most of the time, and become harder to turn off. In this instance, it can lead to physical and emotion issues including, sleep problems, increased risk of heart attack or stroke, high blood pressure, aches and pains, skin problems, weak immune system, obesity, depression, speed up the aging process.
So, what can we do about it?
All situations that we find ourselves immersed in can often leave us feeling that our lives are out of control and seem impossible to manage. I know it’s pretty much impossible to eliminate all stresses in our lives, unless we sell up, ship out and become a Buddhist on a mountain top somewhere………but failing that, managing stress is very possible and taking a good look at how we respond to it in our lives.
Firstly, to start and control how much stress we allow ourselves to undertake is part of stress management, taking control over our emotions, our thoughts and taking better care of our physical selves, plus our environment are the first stages.
Making time for rest and relaxation, changing stressful situations wherever you can, or if you just can’t, then learning to change the way in which you react to it.
There are many good therapists out there that can help you to become familiar and practiced with many stress busting techniques that work very well. Yoga will help you to think clearly under pressure and release tension. meditation and deep breathing are fantastic for bringing about states of deep peace, calm and relaxation. In fact these practices activate and boast the body’s immune system and happy hormones. Many books have been written on the subject of stress. Feeding the mind material that helps us to grow on an optimistic attitude or being able to embrace challenge instead to being devoured by it, is a positive move to being in control of stress.
Learning ways to soothe and relax our selves is also a key tool when under pressure.
So, how can we help?
We carry books on positive thinking, stress relief, self empowerment and therapies
Meditation CD’s; written especially for stress, sleep, confidence and relaxation.
Aromatherapy Oils – can be very helpful, they can help induce sleep, relaxation or have an uplifting effect. A good way to make use of these oils is to inhale from a tissue or diffused into your environment through use in an oil burner.
We suggest Lavender oil, plain and simple, to help relax and entice sleep.
On a tissue to inhale:
3 drops of Clary Sage
1 drop of Lemon Oil
1 drop of Lavender Oil
On a tissue to inhale:
2 drop of Roman Chamomile oil
2 drops of Lavender oil
1 drop of Vetiver
On a tissue to inhale:
3 drops of Bergamot Oil
1 drop of Geranium Oil
1 drop of Frankincense Oil
In an oil burner:
12 drops of Clary Sage
4 drops of Lemon oil
4 drops of Lavender oil
In an oil burner:
8 drops of Roman Chamomile oil
8 drops of Lavender oil
4 drops of Vetiver oil
In an oil burner:
12 drops of Bergamot Oil
4 drops of Geranium oil
4 drops of Frankincense Oil
Oils for Depression
Geranium, Lavender, Bergamot, Clary Sage, Grapefruit, Ylang Ylang & Vertiver
Oils for Stress Relief
Bergamot, Chamomile, Cypress, Frankincense, Geranium, Lavender, Palma Rosa, Ylang Ylang, Juniper
Oils for Exhaustion
Petitgrain, Rosemary, Basil, Lemon, Clary Sage, lavender, Vetiver, Geranium, Peppermint
We also stock ‘Nelsons Arnica Bath & Massage Balm’ great to massage into achy stiff muscles or add to your bath; soaking away tensions and stress. Evening Primrose oil and rich sweet Almond oil, naturally hydrate the skin, whilst lavender and grapefruit essential oils help calm senses and relax the mind.
If you have a willing partner, a nice massage on tight shoulders with this nourishing blend would be a gorgeous treat before bed, along with a nice warm cup of relaxing chamomile tea which is available from health food shops.
Warning: Remember that aromatherapy or any or our suggestions should not be used as a substitute for medical treatment and please obey the following safety information when using oils.
We offer the following safety guidelines, but these are not fully comprehensive, so if in doubt please consult a trained aromatherapist.
Essential Oils should not be ingested unless prescribed by a trained aromatherapy practitioner. Some oils should be avoided during pregnancy. also by those who suffer from epilepsy, asthma or other conditions. Essential oils should not be used undiluted directly onto the skin; contrary to popular belief that certain oils, such as lavender and tea tree are fine. But, as with all oils, they can potentially cause some people to have an allergic reaction; so always dilute and keep essential oils away from children, as some oils smell as inviting as a fruit drink!
Crystals are also very beneficial for health, healing and relaxation. For more information about their healing properties, please see my previous blog on ‘crystals’ and find out how they can help you.
I hope this information is helpful to you in some way, or leads you to find the first steps out of a difficult or challenging place in your life right now. I know from experience that mastering the way we think, thus feel, about many situations in our lives is the key to having the life that we love and above all, being gentle with ourselves.
I wish heartfelt love and healing to all that read this….
Dana x
2015 Dana Morgan/Destiny Rising. All right reserved
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