Stress is a major problem in our modern society. The way we’ve structured our lives, from work to play, leads to a lot of anxiety, mental conditions, and unhealthy habits. It can overwhelm us completely, making even little things seem like insurmountable challenges.
It’s not just a mental problem – it’s a whole body problem. Here are some of the way stress can affect you, and how you can fight back against stress before it takes over your life!
Physical Effects of Stress
Stress is, of course, a natural response our bodies take on to help deal with trouble and danger. The increase of adrenaline and cortisol in our bloodstream puts us into a state of readiness, and the “fight-or-flight” system is an important part of keeping us safe. It was more useful when our ancestors were in a constant state of nature, and had to stay alert from dangerous predators or enemies.
Now, though, a constant state of stress takes a hard physical toll on the body. When we’re in a constant state of “fight-or-flight”, our cortisol levels are always high, causing inflammation. Inflammation is the cause of so many medical problems, from heart disease to neurodegenerative disorders to arthritis, and the stress hormones can wear our body’s tissues.
The Mental Effects of Stress
Not only can constant stress cause neurodegenerative disorders, but lead to short term mental conditions. Stress causes distraction, anxiety, poor eating habits, and a decrease in sleep. The overactive thyroid, which releases the stress hormones into the body, draws up energy, leaving our brains fatigued, foggy, and generally out-of-sync.
Stress also makes you more susceptible to mental conditions like depression, can cause you to withdraw emotionally, and can generally take over your life.
The Spiritual Effects of Stress
The often forgotten effect of stress can be a disruption of energy flow and its effects on your spirit. The tension that builds within the body can impede a healthy energy flow, harming your aura and creating negative thoughts and emotions.
What Can We Do?
As we’ve seen, the effects of stress affect every part of our bodies. It’s important to decrease stress, and to take time for relaxation and clearing the mind. Here are some of the ways you can decrease stress, tension, and anxiety:
- Yoga and Meditation: Slowing down your body and mind can be very relaxing. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with stress, practice some breathing exercises, close your eyes, and focus on the here-and-now. It’s very important to be attentive to your mind, and meditation is the best way to focus on the here-and-now.
- Monatomic Elements: Monatomic Gold turns your cells into superconductors, letting your chi flow unimpeded and helping decrease negative thoughts and energies. Read through some testimonials to see how Monatomic elements have been known to help reduce stress and its negative effects!
- Calming Exercises: We’ve already mentioned yoga, but exercises like Tai Chi can help your body as well as center your mind and spirit. These kinds of exercises, combined with a healthy diet full of whole foods, reduce the conditions that are conducive to stress and anxiety.
- Sleep: Get your rest! Proper sleep can reduce stress and anxiety, and help it from overtaking your mind. Take supplements to help if the stress is keeping you awake.