25 Things You Can Do To Deal With Stress

Believe it or not, some stress can be good for you! There are two kinds of stress: good stress and bad stress. Good stress is any stress which is positive and motivating, but not a threat to your existence. Think about the birth of your first child, buying your first home, a new car or even winning the lottery! Bad stress, or distress, is negative and anger or fear motivated. Sometimes too much 'good stress' can quickly turn into distress if it goes beyond our threshold of tolerance. For example, a job promotion can be considered good stress, but if the work-related responsibilities associated with it are too taxing, then it can become distress. The following strategies can help deal with stress, and are easy to implement.

(1) The importance of private time.

Something as simple as soaking in the tub can renew your mind and body. For added relaxation, turn down the lights and play some soft music. Some individuals prefer to spend time with friends, while others prefer some time alone as a form of stress release.

(2) Learn relaxation techniques.

Read a book on relaxation techniques, or take a meditation or yoga class. Here's a simple technique you can try at home. Find 15 minutes without distractions to meditate, visualize, etc. Sit in a comfortable chair, feet on the floor, arms at your sides. Breathe in deeply, through your nose. Then slowly release the air through your mouth and repeat an affirmation like "Relax... Relax... Relax". Continue breathing in and out, focusing on your word or phrase for the 15 minutes.

(3) Schedule 'worry sessions'.

Set aside a specific 15 minutes each day when you'll concentrate on everything that's bothering you. When worries enter your mind during the day, set them aside for your 'worry session'. Then picture yourself conquering a particular challenge. It's not easy, but it's simple and it works.

(4) Keep a journal.

New studies suggest that people who are able to write about their innermost feelings may enjoy better mental and physical health. Writing is also a powerful tool that helps you organize your thoughts and make life a little bit easier.

(5) Scents and sensibility.

When you need an energy boost, take a whiff of peppermint oil or even your favorite perfume. Studies suggest certain scents can promote alertness.

(6) Power naps.

15-20 minutes during the afternoon, if you can find the time, can be very energizing and rejuvenating. However, more than 20 minutes and you might wake up feeling more tired than you were to begin with.

(7) Reduce your workload and delegate as much as possible.

On your weekly calendar, eliminate the least important tasks and activities. Delegate household chores. Have your family members help you with the grocery shopping. Even if things are not done the way you would prefer, it's important for everyone to pitch in so you don't have to bear all the burdens.

(8) Reward yourself.

Engage in a just-for-you activity every single day, provided you accomplished something you set out to do for that day. For example, if you finish paying your bills, then rent a movie, read, do some gardening, etc. You'll not only boost your self-esteem, you'll also enjoy the well-deserved feelings of relaxation.

(9) Smiling - the easiest and best way to relieve stress!

Some smiling pointers: Do something that makes you smile. We are constantly doing things to get something. It's easy to get caught up in doing something for somebody/thing else. Take the time, even if for a few minutes, to do something you genuinely enjoy. Project what you want to get. Smile at others, you get a smile back. Everyone loves giving and receiving smiles!

(10) Laugh.

Laughter really is good medicine. Laughing raises your heart rate, stimulates circulation, exercises your diaphragm, abs, and other muscles, and increases production of certain 'feel good' hormones. You can watch funny tv shows, join a laughter club or spend more time with friends who have a good sense of humor. You can also subscribe to some funny online newsletters.

(11) The power of tears.

Studies show that the tears you produce when you're anxious, upset, sad, or angry contain stress-relieving hormones.

(12) Forgive and forget.

Do you carry a grudge? This can be very emotionally depleting. Forgiveness is something you do for yourself, not for another individual or circumstance. Forgiving actually takes you out of the role of victim, protecting you and helping you to overcome any anger or frustration.

(13) Get a massage.

Various massage techniques reduce stress, loosen tight muscles, and increase energy. Massage also helps release endorphins ("feel good" chemicals released by the brain), triggering relaxation.

(14) Stress and food choices.

Stress and boredom generally lead to unhealthy eating, and consequently weight gain. To make it worse, escalating fatigue is accompanied by lower energy levels and higher stress levels.

Here is a closer look at nutrients that combat anxiety, depression, and stress. Try incorporating these nutrients into your diet-

Vitamin B1

Oatmeal, peanuts, lean pork, most veggies, bran, milk.

Vitamin B6

Wheat germ, soybeans, cantaloupe, cabbage, eggs, oats, peanuts, walnuts.

Pantothenic Acid

Meat, whole grains, wheat germ, green veggies, nuts, chicken.

Vitamin C

Citrus fruits, berries, green leafy veggies, tomatoes, cauliflower, peppers, potatoes.

Vitamin B12

Beef, pork, eggs, milk, cheese.

Choline

Green leafy veggies, wheat germ, egg yolks

Vitamin E

Wheat germ, soybeans, vegetable oils, nuts, Brussels sprouts, leafy greens, eggs, whole grain.

Folic Acid

Deep green leafy veggies, carrots, egg yolk, cantaloupe, apricots, pumpkin, avocados, beans, whole & dark rye flour.

Zinc

Meat, seafood, wheat germ, eggs, nonfat dry milk.

Magnesium

Figs, almonds, nuts, seeds, dark green veggies, bananas.

Manganese

Whole grain, nuts, green leafy veggies, peas, beets.

Niacin

Lean meat, wheat germ, fish, eggs, peanuts, white meat poultry, avocados.

Calcium

Milk and milk products, soybeans, sardines, salmon, peanuts, walnuts, sunflower seeds, dried beans, kale, broccoli, collard greens.

It is important not only to eat healthy, but to eat all your meals (no skipping any meal). Spreading your calories out over 4-6 balanced meals a day gives you the carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals required to keep your energy high by keeping your blood sugar levels stable.

(15) Eat a "good mood" breakfast.

Combine a high-protein food, such as cottage cheese, with a fiber-rich carbohydrate, like strawberries. Protein not only boosts your brain production of dopamine and norepinephrine - chemicals that keep you alert - it also controls levels of relaxation inducing serotonin. The carbohydrates help you feel calm and focused.

(16) Lunch should be low fat

Broiled fish, skinless chicken, tuna, deli turkey or chicken with a teaspoon of low-fat mayo on whole-grain bread can give you energy for the afternoon.

(17) Make dinner your lightest meal.

If you have eaten a balanced, substantial lunch, you'll feel surprisingly satisfied with a light dinner. Instead of a regular dinner plate, use a smaller plate and fill it up with a healthy balance of proteins, carbohydrates and fat

(18) Watch the caffeine.

A little caffeine is okay for a little boost. Too much and you're making your adrenal glands work overtime. You'll need more caffeine for the desired effect, and the crash when it wears off gets worse.

(19) Minimize sugars and starches.

The right amount of sugar is important for energy, but too much can lower your energy levels. In response to high sugar levels, the body releases insulin, which acts to quickly lower blood sugar. When it falls, you feel cranky, weak, and unable to concentrate. Stick with balanced snacks and meals to keep your blood sugars level.

(20) Increase aerobic exercise.

Along with cardiovascular health, aerobic exercise boosts production of endorphins. 25-30 minutes can significantly reduce stress and increase energy.

(21) The importance of deep breathing.

Deep breathing is an effective way to boost energy. Try this simple technique - Sit in a quiet place, feet flat on the floor, arms at your sides. Breathe in deeply through your nose, filling your diaphragm (your stomach should protrude if you're doing it right). Breathe out slowly through your mouth. Do this for just 60 seconds.

(22) Reduce tension in the shoulders and neck.

Whenever you notice you're tense around your neck area and shoulders, shrug your shoulders gently ten times. Touch your chin to your chest and hold for 2 seconds. Try to touch your left ear to your left shoulder (keep it relaxed - no reaching up!) and hold for 2 seconds. Repeat for the right ear/shoulder for 2 seconds. Repeat entire cycle if necessary.

(23) Take a break to stretch.

Alternating arms, reach upward, stretching toward the ceiling. Five times each side.

(24) The positive effect of exercise.

Exercise is a mood elevator. As you start to burn some fat and tighten some muscle, your energy levels will improve. Exercise increases the level of positive, "feel-good" hormones, known as endorphins. Feeling good improves perceptions and personality, which allows you to make better and more positive choices. Studies show time and again that people who work out are more optimistic, and better able to handle stress.

(25) The importance of sleep.

Often, the cause of stress can be attributed to lack of sleep. It plays a role in our day-to-day productivity at work, our social skills and sense of well being. Despite its importance, good refreshing sleep remains an unsolved mystery for some people. There are times when you can fall asleep without knowing it and others when you can't sleep no matter how hard you try.

Increasingly, more and more individuals are sleep deprived or get poor sleep. Try and go to bed a little earlier and you will wake up happier, more contented and refreshed each morning. -By: Nitin Chhoda

Natural Home Remedies for Stress, Mental Disorders

What are these?

Nervous diseases are more difficulty to diagnose than diseases of the various organs of the body because the nervous system is hidden from the eye of the physician and it can be known only from the disturbances of the organs governed by the affected nerves whether and of what type the nervous diseases is. Under this head come apoplexy, forgetfulness, hysteria, mental defectiveness, mental illness, neurasthenia and others. The most common nervous weakness, nervous break down or nervous exhaustion.

Causes:

Many factors contribute to the production of nervous diseases. Some people are born with a nervous disposition and it is that category which generally suffers from headaches, neuralgia, hysterical manifestations and bizarre forms of mental activity. The nervous system is exposed to the fast pace of modern life, which tends to bring on many diseases like anxiety states, digestives disturbances and exhaustion. Shocks to both mind and body, such as the loss of a dear one, money reverses, an unfortunate love affair and an accident may be the starting point of many chronic nervous complaints. Certain organic poisons like the one produced in body by diseases like syphilis give rise to serious nervous disorders. Chronic alcoholism may bring on severe mental derangement. The organic disorders manifest themselves in the shape by hysteria, anxiety states and nervous breakdowns.

Weakness of the nervous system can give rise to diseases like dyspepsia or palpitation, which cannot be helped by remedies directed towards those organs. It is but natural since it is the brain and the nervous system enclosed in it, which controls the bodily functions. A sudden loosening of bowels or the bladder in case of fright is an example. Another example is of certain persons with a strong will power who are able to fight serious crisis brought on by diseases much better than ordinary individuals.

Symptoms:

A person suffering from nervous weakness or debility generally experiences a sense of nameless fear, agitation, perplexity, confusion, worry, disappointment, loneliness, irritability and insomnia. The physical symptoms are constipation, dyspepsia, headaches, vague aches and pains all over the body and feverishness. The patient is also inclined to be a hypochondriac. The moment he reads about or hears the symptoms of a disease he imagines that he suffers from it. The wise physician will keep him away from any medical literature.

The main cause of a nervous breakdown is the rat race in which modern man engages. The lust for money and success-which again is measured in the good things of life, -motivates a man to overwork, both mentally and physically. Constant worry about things being done and to be done lead to tension and a man falls prey to his imagination. Overstraining leads to mistakes which erodes his self-confidence and after that the only way is the way downhill.

Treatment:

Since a healthy mind can reside only in a healthy body, see that the body regains its health. The paint must live a normal, natural life. He should try to get sleep. During the day also he should be advised to relax in a bed for some hours. The loosening of tensions by relaxation will help his organs to do their work properly and he would be able to get rid of the poisons.

The next imperative for such a patient is exercise. He should take walks and if possible take a jogging. His foods should include bread made from wheat from which bran has not been sieved out, fruits and boiled vegetables. Since nervous debility shows a marked lack of vitamin B, the deficiency should be made up by inclusion in his diet of foods, which contain it in larger measure. Unpolished rice, milk, cucumber, mangoes, pears, pineapples, guava, tomatoes, raisins and leafy vegetables should be his mainstay. He should be asked to eat his food in a relaxed manner, chewing it properly before ingestion.

Massages can help in reactivating the nervous system. Hydropathic treatment is also recommended and that merely consists in bathing his spine with a garden or bathroom shower for a couple of minutes. The water should be cold. During summer cold showering of the spine could be done three times or more and in winter twice would do.

The patient must be told to exercise his willpower to get rid of the disease. He must be told that he is getting better. Psychological impressions must be created on his mind, which will help to understand that his disease is not incurable. Suggestion is the best thing in such circumstances. It has to be remembered that certain nervous diseases like hysteria are the result of autosuggestion and nothing else.

Persons suffering from nervous debility are always on the look out for crutches on which they can lean or shoulders on which they can weep. The wise physician tries to reawaken their self-confidence and the desire to stand on their own feet.

Exercises:

Some exercises are helpful in dealing with nervous debility.

Sit on your feet with your stomach touching your knees. Try to keep your spine straight and extend both your arms. Now thrust your right foot forward and stand up with a jerk. Resume your earlier position and repeat the exercise with your left foot.

Stand with your right leg about a foot from your left. Join your hands and extend the arms downward, upward and then backward. More the arms with the hands joined in a circular motion and inhale and exhale deeply during the movement.

Lie on your back on the floor with your elbows touching your sides. Then try to raise the body with your elbows and heels and then resume the former position.

Stand like a boxer and make positions like you are hitting somebody with your fists. Or, to put it differently, indulge in shadow boxing for some time, moving your feet as a boxer does.

Stand in the normal position and then sit down with a jerk on your toes, with your palms touching the ground. Suddenly jerk your legs back just as you were about to do push-up. The exercise is akin to doing sit-ups and push-ups simultaneously.

If this regimen is followed for some weeks, you can get rid of any nervous disorder. It is also beneficial for sciatica, hydrosel and dropsy.

By Dr John Anne