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STRESS MANAGEMENT
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I am doing this page because stress affects all of our lives. We have a heart condition that is sometimes hard to deal with. We have many unanswered questions, we get different answers to the same question, and sometimes get no answers at all. All this causes unnecessary anxiety in our lives. There are many ways in learning how to cope with these anxieties and others that have been with us a life time. I personally went to a psychotherapist, who helped me change my life around. I incorporated therapy dealing with the life force such as Reiki and some others. If you have any further questions on some of the alternative treatments please ask me and I will try to answer you. |
| DEFINITION: | The state in which individuals are faced with the need to make difficult or undesirable changes in order to adapt to events and situations in their lives. Stress can be a good thing, giving us the edge to perform better in a challenging situation. The "fight and flight" response in a stressful situation helps us to be mobile for physical defense. Mental stress, however, can raise the heart rate and increase blood pressure and set the stage of coronary heart disease or worsen existing myocardial ischemia. The good news is that our reaction to stress can be modified with counseling and behavior modification training. |
| SIGNS OF MENTAL STRESS: | facial tautness, muscle aches, heavy sweating or facial flushing, cold clammy hands, facial tics, tapping foot or drumming fingers, headaches, sleep problems, dizziness, nausea, stomach pains, cramps, diarrhea, constipation, indigestions, heartburn, coughing, fatigue rashes, hives, acne, asthma, back pain, dry mouth or throat, change in appetite, palpitations, anger, frustration, withdrawal, excessive crying, depression, anxiety, fears, panic attacks, phobias, excessive talking, irritability, impatience, overreacting, difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness, feeling of time pressure, rapid speaking, rapid walking, chain-smoking, excessive drinking, teeth grinding, restlessness, nail biting and picking, hair-twisting, sexual probs. |
| WHEN SHOULD I GET HELP?: |
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| THERAPY: | Individual and psychotherapy can be very helpful. Many experts feel this is the most profound and long-lasting. Group therapy is also beneficial, as you open yourself up while sharing with others. This has many benefits. |
| ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES: | There are many alternative
treatments available which leaves one with a feeling of well being and
relaxation. Life force flows through us, with in the physical body
through pathways called chakras, meridians, and nadis. It also flows
around us in our energy field called an aura. We need this life
force to run smoothly to nourish the organs and cells of our body.
Life force is responsive to thought and feelings and is disrupted when we
accept negative thoughts or feelings about ourselves consciously or
unconsciously. There are many different kinds of treatments to
assist us to bring this "stuck" life force back to a smooth
flow. I will list a few of these, Reiki clears,
straightens and heals the energy pathway, thus allowing the life force to
flow in a healthy and natural way. Acupuncture
is also used to influence the flow of energy to bring about balance
between the positive and the negative. Aromatherapy is
the enhancement of body, mind and spirit with aromatic, botanical
essential oils. Bioenergetics is body work based on
the premise the the body contains and expresses everything that happens to
the individual. Exercises are designed to open blocked or tensed areas of
the body.
There are many many more of these types of treatment and I personally highly recommend them. There is nothing more rewarding than taking some time for yourself, and being "treated" for an hour. The rewards are many, physically, spiritually and mentally. I myself am a Reiki practitioner and have had much of this type of work done on me. I would be feeling uptight or "stuck" for some reason and after a treatment would feel so much peace and contentment.
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| HELPFUL THINGS: | Regular exercise, like a brisk walk at the end of the day is very beneficial. It may help burn off excess hormones produced by hours of stress. Relaxation techniques such as yoga, transcendental meditation and T'ai chi all have a very good affect on the sympathetic nervous system. |
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The Relaxation Response: Dr Herbert Benson of Harvard University says the relaxation response can be used to counteract the effect of the fight or flight response.
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