A funny thing happens as we grow older; time seems to go by faster and faster. Our lives tend to become cluttered with to-do lists. Not only do we make demands on ourselves, but other people seem to enjoy putting demands on us also.
Many of us have gone to seminars to learn time management, but somehow, there are still not enough hours in the day. Because of this, we spend most of our day in reaction. We feel like we are constantly putting out fires which leaves us feeling out of control and stressed.
Stress is interesting! Events that cause you stress, might not cause someone else any stress at all. In fact, the other person may totally enjoy the event that stresses you. This means that stress is an individual thing. Stress is simply how we interpret events. William Shakespeare once said, ” Nothing has any meaning, accept that which we give it.” Think about that, we give things and events meaning.
The Consequences of Living a Stressful Life.
When stressed, your heart beats faster, your blood pressure becomes elevated and you take shallower breaths. Our body was actually designed to do this, so we could respond to danger and live to tell about it. However, the intent was to use this only on occasion. Unfortunately, for a lot of people, this is an occurrence that happens several times a day. This leads to a breakdown of the body.
One of the most significant effects stress has on the human body is on the immune system. The immune system is a wonderful thing. As you are reading this article, there are cells in your body killing off invading organisms. You don’t even have to think about it. When you are stressed, however, these little attack cells are reproduced at a much slower rate. This of course allows the invading organisms to over-power-us and make us sick. Getting sick is a sign that our immunity has been compromised. By the way, becoming ill is Feedback! It’s our body’s way of telling us we need to make changes.
Tips on Dealing with Stress
- Develop Empowering Beliefs. Reflect back on the problems you have had in the past. Problems that at the time, you thought could not be dealt with but you dealt with them and eventually they were handled. Current problems are no different, regardless of their size. Always remember, “all” problems have a beginning and an end.
- Exercise. Exercise does marvelous things to counteract the effects of stress. Exercise strengthens the immune system, strengthens the heart, makes blood vessels more pliable and helps you to think more clearly. At the end of the day you will ba able to unwind faster and get a better night’s sleep.
- Diet. Most people are digging their grave with their teeth. Begin to eliminate processed foods out of your diet. Try to eat fresh fruits and vegetables organically grown if you can find them. Reduce stimulating substances like sugar, chocolate and coffee. Drink more water!
Let me know how this helps you.
Yours in Health,
Dr. Gould
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