Web Exclusive: Reduce stress for better health

Jul 21, 2013 at 08:37 pm by bryan


Everyone I meet seems to be telling me that their life is becoming more stressful.

Which of the above applies to you? All of them?

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The fact is that everyone is exposed to stress. Some people obviously have more stressful lives than others, but we are all subject to stress.

Although we cannot avoid stress altogether, it is often possible to reduce the amount of stress we are subject to. In many cases this involves choosing to live more intentionally rather than haphazardly.

In other words, by anticipating how we want our lives to be in the future and taking steps now to point ourselves in that direction, we are better able to avoid all sorts of negative situations including stress.

For many people stress is already playing a significant role in their health however.

Signs that stress may be affecting your health include a number of indicators.

One of the earliest and most common indicators includes tight muscles, neck and back pain.

In my office we see countless people that are affected by silent stress.

If I ask them about stress they might tell me that they do have a stressful life, but they feel they are “handling it.”

In fact, they may be suppressing the feelings of stress to be able to cope with their daily lives, but their bodies are showing me that stress is quietly, stealthily impairing their health and well being.

As I observe a patient experiencing chronic stress I often see abnormal posture, slumped shoulders, shallow breathing pattern, increased muscle tension, tight movement patterns and possibly voice tonal changes.

Their health history may include trouble sleeping, digestive issues, decreased sexual interest, intolerance of heat or cold, trouble with memory or concentration, headaches, neck or back pain, vision problems, fatigue or other issues.

Although they come to see me primarily about their back, neck or possibly headaches, I recognize these symptoms are a part of their overall pattern of bodily dysfunction.

Interestingly, I have noticed that as we work successfully to address their spinal dysfunction and other physical issues, their mental and emotional responses often improve as well. Exactly how the physical improvement is related to the psychological aspect of their health is not clear, but it is seen so frequently that it is undeniable.

Stress manifests in physical as well as mental and emotional health. As patients’ physical condition improves so does their mental and emotional condition.

We recommend that patients in our office take steps to reduce their stress in any way that they can.

Many people seem to think that there is nothing that they can do to reduce their stress, that they are more or less out of control of their lives. However, for most people, including you and I, there are definitive steps that can lead to decreased stress.

Here are a few tips to get your started:

• Practice saying “no”. Don’t accept other people’s problems, demands or issues if it is not your place to do so. As one person once said, “Your lack of planning is not my crisis.” Some people have a really difficult time saying “no”. It may be time to learn how to utter that simple syllable that can save you from future stress.

• Try some new exercise. Any form of exercise helps reduce stress. Going for a walk can be a very effective stress buster.

• Practice prayer. Many people have never learned to pray, other than repeating some rote memorized verse they learned as a child. Prayer that involves taking time to reflect on the concerns that are present as well as rejoicing in the blessings that we have can be very powerful. Regular prayer is more beneficial than random sporadic prayer. Although as one friend commented years ago, God doesn’t require appointments; He is available 24/7.

• Clean up your diet. Junk food does more than add to your waistline and hasten degeneration of your body. Fresh fruits and vegetables, sensible protein, and plenty of water are always beneficial.

• Sleep more. Restricted sleep has a definite physical, mental and emotional impact on our lives.

By taking steps to reduce stress, it is inevitable that you will be taking steps to gain control over your life.

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