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Stress:

It keeps you fat, sick, and tired. then it kills you.

It's all over the news...stress is bad.

But, what does this actually mean?

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Put simply, stress kills you from a psychological and physiological standpoint 

What occurs in the body when we are stressed?

  • Fight or Flight Response (sympathetic arousal):

    • An evolutionary, instantaneous biological and psychological response that tells use to either run away or fight the threat that is in front of us.

    • A response system built for protection of acute (short-term) threats, not chronic threats (i.e., typical modern-day, longer-term stressors).

  • Secretion of stress hormones:​

    • Release of cortisol: a needed stress hormone, but chronic secretion is EXTREMELY inflammatory​

    • Release of adrenaline: a needed stress hormone, but chronic secretion is also EXTREMELY inflammatory

    • Chronic secretion of both can lead to adrenal fatigue and HPA-axis dysregulation.

  • Secretion of fat storage hormones:​

    • Release of insulin: when cortisol goes up, it raises blood sugar. When blood sugar rises, insulin is released. Result? Fat storage.

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This is an simplified version of what is going on...but, there is much, much more...

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What Can I do?

1. Acknowledge that you have chronic stress

2. Commit to doing something about it

3. Integrate routine and practices of stress relief

4. Improve your relationships

5. Take time for yourself

6. Try biofeedback

  • Increasing awareness and control of your stress response

  • Awareness through visually how stress impacts your body and learning techniques for self-control. 

7. Try mindfulness meditation (or any other method of meditating)

  • Learning to cultivate a sense of non-judgmental, present moment awareness. This is learning to be in this moment.

8. Improve your nutrition: Start here

9. Get some sunlight: Start here

10. Get some sleep: Start here

11. Incorporate a gratitude practice 

12. Seek professional help

13. Have some fun

14. Laugh a little, especially with others

15. Learn some Tai Chi

16. Practice yoga

17. Live a life of simplicity and minimalism

18. Keep hydrated

19. Consider your mindset

20. Go get a massage and/or some acupuncture

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The list can go on and on, but these are a good start.

Interested in the idea of meditation? Click here

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Light

Does light exposure have an impact on mental and physical well-being?

Exercise

What effects does exercise have on overall physical and mental performance?

Water

Does the type of water I drink matter? What does water have to do with mental and physical well-being?

Sleep

Sleep better for better physical and mental well-being

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