Christmas stress management tipsThe silly season is upon us! With increased work, family and social commitments November and December can be a busy time for many. How are you coping? There are many ways you can manage the stress of the holidays.

 

What is stress?

Stress occurs when there is an imbalance between the demands being placed on us and our resources to cope with said demands. It is often synonymous with change. Despite whether the stress is positive or negative, it will always have an effect on the body.

What does stress do to the body?

When the body is under stress, the brain signals the adrenal glands to release adrenaline and other hormones through the body. This stimulates our ‘fight or flight’ mechanism and a series of adaptive processes that are used by our body to deal with our stressors. Both acute and chronic stress can influence our health.

Symptoms of stress

Everyone experiences stress in different ways. Some of the common symptoms of stress include:
Headaches
Anxiety
Irritability
Anger
Fatigue
Decreased energy and mood
Tension in jaw
Grinding teeth
Increased heart rate
Chest pain
Weight gain
Digestive disorders
Abdominal pain
Decreased sex drive
Muscle tension and pain
Insomnia
Immune system dysfunction

Keys for managing your stress

1. Understand how you experience stress
2. Identify your sources of stress
3. Learn your own unique stress signals
4. Recognise how you deal with stress
5. Find healthy ways to manage your stress
6. Take care of yourself

Stress Management Tips

There are many ways to help alleviate stress from our lives. Different forms of stress relief will work for different people. Here are some ideas to help you find your stress relief:

  • Connect with loved ones – play with your children or pets, talk to family or friends, meet new people.
  • Meditation and yoga.
  • Practice mindfulness, be present in the moment.
  • Write a list of all the things that make you stressed and why. Find solutions.
  • Do something you love and are passionate about each day, even if it is only for 5 or 10 minutes.
  • Practice using deep calm breathing – inhaling through the nose, exhaling through the mouth.
  • Take a ‘time-out’- have a massage, read a book, or a warm shower/bath and relax.
  • Exercise.
  • Be in nature – Make a garden, go for a bush walk.
  • Try creating – arts and crafts, cooking.
  • Listen to your favourite music, or play an instrument.
  • Practice good nutrition – eat wholesome nutritious foods and drink plenty of water.

Need someone to talk to?

Lifeline 13 11 14
Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800
Suicide Helpline 1300 651 251

How can the practitioners at AcuNatural Health help you this silly season?

The practitioners at AcuNatural Health are all focused on holistic health. They are well equipped to help you mentally, physically and emotionally enjoy the holidays. With acupuncture, massage, naturopathy, homeopathy and hypnotherapy we can help you alleviate the symptoms of stress and encourage your body’s natural adaptive processes. We also offer gift vouchers for treatments so you can help your loved ones be happy and healthy too.