WWhile you can’t necessarily prevent stress from entering your life, you can choose how you deal with it. Remedies such as prescription drugs or alcohol may temporarily take care of your problem and mask the true depths of the true stress – but the problem is still there and is likely getting worse. These alternative methods are more likely to have positive roles and results in your life.
Try these four stress-killing methods to get started:
1 – Deep Breathing
If you are looking for stress relief, practicing deep breathing is one of the best services you can do for yourself. Under normal circumstances, taking deep breaths is very relaxing by itself. However, most of us are used to ‘shallow breathing’ using only 20% of our lung capacity.
Bad breathing habits lead to an imbalance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the body. Correct breathing purifies the blood, gives it more energy, and relaxes the mind and body.
Breathing serves two purposes: it helps transport oxygen to various parts of the body, and it helps remove waste products. Shallow breaths fail to bring enough oxygen to the body, and also fail to rid the body of all waste products. Oxygen is the body’s most important nutrient, every cell needs it. When the body does not receive the required amount of oxygen, it begins to lose its vitality. There is an overall lack of energy.
In eastern culture, the science of proper breathing is practiced with great zeal. In Yoga too, breathing is very important. The science of breathing is known as Pranayama. The breath is known as ‘prana’ or life force. This is the point where the body and mind interact. By learning to breathe properly, a yogi achieves the perfect balance between body and mind.
2 – Laugh
Laughter reduces levels of stress hormones such as cortisol, epinephrine (adrenaline), dopamine, and growth hormone. It also increases the level of health promoting hormones like endorphins, and neurotransmitters. Laughter increases the number of antibody-producing cells and increases the effectiveness of T cells. All of this means a stronger immune system, as well as the effects of less physical stress.
3 – Focus on positive thinking
Researchers continue to explore the health effects of positive thinking and optimism. The health benefits that positive thinking can provide include:
Increased life span, Lower rates of depression, Less distress, Greater resistance to the common cold, Better psychological and physical well-being, Reduced risk of death from cardiovascular disease, Better coping skills during adversity and times of stress
It’s not clear why positive-minded people experience these health benefits. One theory is that having a positive outlook allows you to better cope with stressful situations, which reduces the harmful health effects of stress on your body. It is also thought that positive and optimistic people lead healthier lifestyles — they do more physical activity, follow healthier diets.
4 – Stretching
Everyone faces stress and stressful situations throughout their life. For most people, stress has become a daily part of their lives. It gives you headaches, sore shoulders, stiff necks and backaches when your body tenses up in reaction to stress. Learning how to deal with the stress you face on a daily basis will help you live a happier, healthier and less stressful life.
When we stretch our bodies, we receive many benefits. These benefits include:
•Stress hormone production decreases because receptors in the nervous system are stimulated
•Blood flow to the muscles increases
•Tight and tense muscles and joints relax
•Joints experience a better range of motion
•Flexibility increases
•There is a reduction in feelings of stress, fatigue and anxiety
