How to Find a Natural Remedy for Stress

Aside from the typical advice for reducing stress like getting more sleep, eating better, exercising regularly, and practicing yoga or meditation, there are several ways that you can address your stress and right your course so you can live a happier, healthier life.

Knowing the Risks: Not only does it feel awful to be stressed out, it can also be very damaging to the mind and body.  There are many symptoms of stress, which include increased heartbeat that can put excess strain on the heart, frequent and painful headaches accompanies by stiff neck and shoulders, and indigestion, upset stomach, or nausea.  If you think that this is bad, consider what can happen if stress is able to riddle the body without proper treatment.  The worsening symptoms of too much stress for too long include its ability to make one more susceptible to attacks on the immune system.  This means that the body is less able to defend itself against cold, flu, and other illnesses.  Being sick means missing work and putting oneself further off pace; this will only add to stress levels.  Furthermore, too much stress can lead to high blood pressure, an abnormal heartbeat, blood clots, or even heart attack.  If that is not enough, try living life with chronic acid reflux, peptic ulcer, irritable bowel syndrome, or Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).  Stress can also decrease fertility, cause erectile dysfunction, complications during pregnancy, acne outbreaks, cases of psoriasis, or result in serious depression and anxiety.  Given this, it is easy to understand why it is so important to find ways to effectively deal with stress.

Make Music: One of the many ways that a person can let off steam is through music.  Listening to music can be enough for some people, but often it requires concentration on something other than the source of stress, and for this there are few things better than making music.  You do not have to be a super star to benefit from the stress relief of music.  Actually, the worse you are, the better the outlet, because to seek perfection will only amplify stress in your life.  So pick up an inexpensive set of bongo drums and bang away, or turn on the radio, pick up your kids’ maracas and shake to the beat.  Methods such as this have proven very effective in helping the mindset, and even in the healing process of patients in hospitals, in nursing homes, and even with at-risk children.  It forces the mind away from more serious matters and allows one to have a bit of fun.  If it works for you, then you might even consider keeping a small instrument on your desk.

Write: Again, this is something that might not be recommended as an outlet for the professional journalist, but keeping a diary of one’s daily activities, trying to write a book, or simple telling silly little tales for the children can be another great way to let the mind wander.  For many, the art of blogging has become a release from reality and brought a center of calm back to their lives.  This can also be a great way to share your sense of humor with the world, or to regularly vent without bringing down those around you.

Find Another Hobby: If you simply cannot let yourself be less than great at something like writing and music, turn to a hobby that you are already good at and that is known to bring you happiness.  When one enjoys something, he or she is more likely to let go to it and use all focus on it, so whether it is arts and crafts, playing ball with the dog, gardening, or hiking, take to it and let your mind relax.  A word of caution to the athletes, while athletics can let off steam as well, if too competitive, they are only likely to add to stress.

Making the Most of a Bad Situation: Outlets are wonderful for release, but for some the constant source of stress is too much to bear.  If work is your place of consistent gloominess, then consider the things you can do to make it a more positive place until a change of scenery is more realistic.  Find something about your job that you enjoy and remember to take the time to do it well each and every day.  Doing something right, even if it is only the smallest aspect of the job, can bring you pride and lift your spirits.  Also, find ways to build connections through the work you do.  This will give you an additional reason to leave the house each day, and the possibility of one of these turning into a way out will keep you motivated.  It might just give you a reason to better enjoy the work environment, so much so that you end up wanting to stay.  Finally, maintain stress levels through organization, cleanliness, and positive thinking.  Keep your space neat and tidy.  Consider small things to help your nerves such as a Zen Garden or a small set of wind chimes.  Combined with these small measures, keep a positive attitude by doing the things necessary for growth within the workplace.  Furthering your education, learning more about the processes of other departments, or showing more interest in the boss’s objectives may give you a way out of a professional slump, but will also make you feel better about yourself.