More or less, everyone has stress in his or her respective lives due to different reasons. Sometimes, it can go beyond the control and can take a damaging turn in anyone’s life and can lead to worse health consequences like high blood sugar, cardiovascular problems and digestive disorders.
It has been also observed that stress is one of the leading causes of suicide in many countries not excluding our very own India. One need not lose hope.
Psychologists are exploring the right ways to save the lives of people under stress and other poor mental health conditions and thus transform their lives.
What is Stress?
When you are struggling to deal with any particular difficulty or anything appearing as an obstacle, that's how the stress occurs. It can be anything like your financial problem, discord in your relationship, state of unemployment, threat from your enemy and past trauma.
Many are unable to bear the burden of stressful factors and find difficulty in performing in bed. Chronic stress does not let the person have a good sex life. It would decrease testosterone production and make the man suffer from a lack of arousal, erectile dysfunction and early ejaculation problems.
What causes stress?
There may be several reasons behind stress
- Withdrawal symptoms
- Physiological conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, cardiovascular disease, injuries, joint pain, nerve disorders, headache and migraine.
- Menstrual cramps, pregnancy and gynecological problems
- Cognitive disabilities or intellectual challenges are understandable as the inability to handle society-related issues, lack of appropriate communication skills, slow learning abilities, poor memory and dementia
- Poor mental health conditions like anxiety and depression
- Financial pressure and working under pressure to meet the deadline.
What Are the Symptoms of Stress?
Stress is diagnosed with medical symptoms like
- Extreme anger
- Depression
- Poor learning conditions
- Poor memory or difficulty in remembering something
- Alcohol dependence
- Chain Smoking habit
- Poor decision ability arises due to cognitive impairment.
- Mood swings
- Sudden changes in sleeping habit
- Withdrawing from the society.
Effects of Stress on the Body
It is proven that men tend to discharge under the intense pressure of stress. Stress can turn into chronic problems which may trigger different physiological disorders like:
- High blood pressure
- Increase in heartbeat rate influencing irregular blood circulation and cardiovascular disorders.
- High blood sugar
- Heartburn and poor gut health
- Pain in joints
- Headache
- Weak immune system
- Sleeplessness
What are some strategies for stress relief?
1. Meditation and yoga
Both are interrelated as these actions help in controlling and gaining a peaceful state of mind. You can practice deep breathing exercises to improve the level of oxygen and regulate your circulatory system.
2. Improving the social contact
Building a relationship with positive-thinking people can help find different solutions to your personal and professional problems
3. Participating in hobbies
Gardening, painting, and sketching by doing nature study, taking music lessons and doing pottery or participating in theatre workshops can reduce negativity rising in your mind and boost your personality development and skills.
4. Developing a sense of humor
Finding humor in what comes will evolve your personality as a whole. It will improve your wit and intelligence and help in decisions. It will develop your leadership skills.
5. Sufficient sleep
After your day’s hard work, you will require adequate rest and sleep to balance your daily life and health. You should focus on improving your sleep quality, this is how you can combat your cortisol or stress hormone
What are some ways to prevent stress?
It is not difficult to prevent stress in the following ways:
- Replacing consumption of alcohol and fast food items with balanced and nutritious meals.
- Increasing the consumption of healthy beverages like fruit and vegetable juices.
- Waking up early in the morning during sunrise and performing Surya namaskar yoga
- Performing savasana after your meal.
- Limiting screen time before going to bed.
- Drinking enough water improves the circulation of blood and the regulation of hormones.
- Performing weight management with cycling, swimming and aerobics.
- Build cordial relationships with supportive and positive-minded people.
Ayurvedic Herbs for Stress Relief
Valerian
Any adult may easily overcome chronic or acute stress by orally consuming 300 to 600 mg of Valerian root for consistently 6 weeks.
The strong odor of the root may be unpleasant for many, but oral intake in the form of tea, capsules or tablets may help in regulating your mood disorders and calm down your already upset nervous system.
Chamomile
You can inhale the vaporized prepared essential oils made from chamomile flower extracts to experience relief from any form of stress which may be depression or anxiety. Or else, you can use the dried form of chamomile flowers, soak them and prepare tea.
Studies have revealed an improvement in mental health conditions after taking chamomile for 2 to 4 weeks.
Ashwagandha
By consuming Ashwagandha in the form of a measured dosage for 4 to 12 weeks, one can easily combat the problem of a rise in cortisol levels.It is highly effective for people, specifically those who are struggling with insomnia, and nerve or brain disorders.
However, ashwagandha alone cannot wipe out stress from the body. You will be successful in releasing stress and tension when you combine it with any other physical or mental orientation.
Vidarikand
Vidarikand is successful in the process of de addiction treatment by stimulating blood flow into the cerebral area and revitalizing the dormant brain nerves. Its antioxidant properties would aid in controlling heart attack and relieving weariness.
Punarnava
Punarnava helps in recovering from loss of memory and calming down the upset mind.
Lavender
Undoubtedly, Lavender is the best medicine to remove oxidative stress, acute or chronic stress from the body if inhaled from the flowers or consumed orally.
Though slightly bitter, it can also aid in stimulating rejuvenating effects on the body and mind. It does excel in overcoming different psychological and physical ailments.
Brahmi
Brahmi is highly effective for students and examinees who have to struggle with both poor learning ability and poor memory. It rejuvenates brain nerves and keeps the person active and prompt.
When should I talk to a doctor about stress?
Seeking a doctor’s assistance for stress management becomes necessary when you are not able to handle stress or stressful situations with your coping mechanisms.
Conclusion
Stress can be life-threatening if not taken care of on time with medication and counseling. There may be several reasons for stress and that may be linked with both physical and psychological.
Certain preventive measures have proven successful in altering the problems of heart, blood sugar and digestion issues. Ayurvedic herbs like Valerian root, chamomile flowers and lavender have natural rejuvenating effects on mind and body.
