We, as people, are becoming more stressed each day. Many of us take on more
than we can handle. With so many obligations and all that running around, it is
easy for the stress to build up and become chronic. Once it has reached the
chronic stage it is harder to treat. The best solution is prevention. The
following suggestions, while they might seem quite basic, are actually some of
the most effective ways to prevent stress build up.
The key is to live a
healthy lifestyle. With a healthy lifestyle you will increase relaxation,
contentment, and happiness.
Exercise regularly
Regular exercises can help reduce stress in several important ways. Body
relaxing endorphins are released into your body during heavy exercise. As
well, exercising is a very effective way to distract your mind from
worrisome problems. Exercise has shown to be an effective treatment for
anxiety and depression. In addition to all of this, people who exercise
frequency and keep their body fit and healthy, have a greater resistance
to the undesirable effects of stress.
Researchers report that the
best types of exercise for reducing stress are running, skiing, walking,
bicycling, and swimming. The rule of thumb is any activity that produces
sweat will reduce stress. It is recommended that you exercise three times
a week for at least 20 minutes. Research has indicated that if you are
healthy and young you are likely to experience the benefits of your
exercise program within a few days. However, if you are older you may need
to keep it up for a few weeks before the effects are felt.
Before
beginning a new and vigorous exercise program, it is suggested that you
check with your doctor to make sure it is safe. Pick an exercise you like
and set a fixed time in which to do it. Besides reducing your stress
levels, you will directly increase your health and give yourself a more
positive attitude about your life.
Make Relaxation and leisure time
Relaxation and leisure time are essential. Refreshing yourself may require
a long vacation, several hours doing something enjoyable, or just simple
down-time. Each person is different. You need to know yourself and make
sure part of your lifestyle includes sufficient time for relaxation and
leisure time. Relaxation and leisure can feel for some people like doing
nothing. For many people, doing nothing is the most difficult thing of all
to do. Practice makes perfect. If you keep trying, you will eventually
discover how!
Abe Kass, M.A., R.S.W., R.M.F.T., is a registered Social Worker,
registered Marriage and Family Therapist, certified Clinical
Hypnotherapist, and award-winning educator and writer. He has a busy
family therapy practice working with individuals, couples, and their
families in Toronto, Canada. Abe is a member of the Ontario College of
Social Workers, the Ontario and American Associations for Marriage and
Family Therapy, and the National Board for Certified Clinical
Hypnotherapists.
He has worked as a professional for almost 20
years helping people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities to free
themselves from personal and relationship problems.
Abe concluded
that practical solutions requiring a focused effort of no more than a
few minutes a day were critically needed to solve very specific personal
and relationship problems. Wisdom Scientific was born to fill this need.
Stress (roughly the opposite of relaxation) is a medical term for a wide
range of strong external stimuli, both physiological and psychological,
which can cause a physiological response called the general adaptation
syndrome, first described in 1936 by Hans Selye in the journal Nature.
An emotionally disruptive or upsetting condition occurring in response to
adverse external influences and capable of affecting physical health which
can be characterized by increased heart rate, a rise in blood pressure,
muscular tension, irritability and depression. Stress does not cause
migraine but can be a migraine "trigger".
A condition in which the organism is subjected to unfavourable or
unfamiliar environmental conditions, resulting in some alteration in normal
physical functioning. Short-term stress can often be overcome. Long-term
stress can reduce resistance to disease and parasites, inhibit self-healing
processes, and reduce life-span.
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