Get Your Body Healthy

Stress is not good for you. Everyone knows that. But, what health problems does it cause and how do we deal with it? 43 percent of adults have adverse health reactions to stress, and 40 percent of job burnout can be attributed to stress. It is the leading occupational disease of our country!

You’ve probably heard that stress can increase blood pressure and anxiety. But it also causes depression, sleep disorders, weight gain or loss, and if not dealt with can lead to death. It’s ironic that the symptoms of stress lead you down into a spiral because they cause more stress.

Everyones reaction to everyday stressors is different. What stresses you out may make someone else laugh. And, what stressed you out years ago may seem like absolutely nothing today. There are a few stressors however, that seem to have a common ground in all of us. Money is at the top of the list. Everyones opinion of how much money is enough differs. What doesnt seem to differ is that when there is not enough to buy adequate food, pay the bills, or save for the future, it stresses us out! Whether we want to admit it or not, money and stress are related in our society.

It’s ironic that 300 billion dollars is spent annually on stress related workers compensation claims. So, what is the answer to stop money stressing? there is no doubt that we need to do something differently. The 6 leading causes of death can be linked to stress:

*heart disease *cancer *lung ailments *accidents *liver cirrhosis *and suicide

I taught my students the detrimental effects of stress in public school. I even demonstrated stress-relief techniques. All the while stress was silently at work destroying my adrenal gland’s ability to function. Yes, I knew I gone through a lot of stress…divorce, lack of money, raising 4 kids alone, returning to college, and finally a new job. Now I had a job with it’s own set of stressors and more debt.

Yes, I was one of those people stressed mostly by money or the lack thereof. We can say that money isnt everything, but having enough can help you fight off other stressors. What I mean is paying for things like yoga, gym memberships, babysitters, date nights, massage, supplements, organic food, funny movies.

I did yoga regularly and considered myself happy. Until I stopped having periods, started losing hair, gained 30 pounds while running marathons, and had panic attacks, I didn’t realize I was in danger. A saliva test revealed that my adrenal glands were barely working. They served me well through years of stress and had given out. I learned that my excessive exercise had actually contributed to my health problem rather than helping it.

I doubt that I am the only one who is well educated and trying to do what is best 9go to college, get a new job, exercise, and eat right) and finds her/himself facing serious health problems. I would like to help someone else out there.

There are two basic answers.

*Get rid of as many stressors as possible (easier said than done at times) *Learn how to deal with and reduce stress

These are the things that worked for me.

*Stop stressing. Ha! How, sell the children? No, really you can do this. Make a list of things you can do about what stresses you out. Do it, and forget the rest for the day. The worst that can happen is usually better than destroying your health through stress. Meditate to clear your mind, or find a mantra or one pointed focus when your mind starts to drift toward what you don’t want. Train your mind to be in the moment and not in the “what if’s”

*yoga-which not only relieves body tension, but teaches you how to live in the moment. *laughter! (natural endorphin release) *exercise but not too intensely. Working within your target heart rate reduces stress. But alternatively, working above it adds to stress. The body doesnt differentiate between mental, emotional, or physical stress. *friends-have some sort of social network and outlet but dont dwell on your problems. Just look for solutions together, laugh! *proper nutrition. I thought I was good just eating a mostly plant based diet with whole grains, and little sugar. Ive found that in this era we need to supplement even healthy diets with a good vitamin, micro-mineral, added B vitamins, and adaptogens (like ginseng). Your body cant deal with stress without the proper nutrition. *enough sleep-lack of sleep severely inhibits the bodys ability to deal with stress. *no stimulants!-caffeine and other common stimulants found in diet pills are like an IV drip of stress!

Who knew that working out like a mad woman would contribut to my physical meltdown? i was a health teacher and I didn’t know. All of the running in stressful times actually made my hormones fail and my body gain weight. I hope to help someone else before it happens to them. It has been unpleasant and hard to recover.

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Tags: adrenal glands, earn more money, fat, money, money and stress, stress, Weight Loss