What is stress?
Stress is the set of reactions put in place by an individual in front of external stimuli perceived as destabilizing, unexpected and often threatening.
Whether it is an intense period of work, or an unexpected change, stressful situations vary from person to person, and induce a change in the balance of those who suffer them, both physically and mentally and emotionally.
From a physical point of view, stress manifests itself with the introduction of a greater quantity of adrenaline in the body, with overloading of the adrenal glands.
When the situation persists, stress leads to physical exhaustion: fatigue, depression, tension, insomnia, digestive problems, are all symptoms of a physical and mental overload resulting in persistent stress.
In this case it is useful to run for cover before reaching a complete exhaustion.
10 natural stress remedies
Before reaching the limit it is possible to manage stress and overload through simple and effective natural remedies accessible to all :
Stop : easier said than done, but it is the first necessity of an organism that is cornered by a too high rhythm. Meditation is a simple and immediate way that allows you to slow down the pace and regain possession of reality. There are many types of meditation, and starting to meditate is very easy: the simplest way is to stop for a few minutes and concentrate your attention on the breath entering and exiting, rhythmically, without trying to force it or direct it. Even just listening to this natural rhythm allows you to calm the breath itself and to stop all the accelerated physiology, allowing us to then resume activities with a greater sense of freshness and lucidity. It takes just five minutes three times a day: in the morning, in the evening, and in the middle of the day;
Or the essentials, used in the burner essence, help to relax the nerves and rest the mind: lavender 5 drops, sandalwood 5 drops, bergamot 3 drops, diluted in a little water, constitute a pleasant mixture. Lavender has calming and fortifying properties at the same time, sandalwood dissolves tensions and helps to slow down, while bergamot reinforces the effect of the oils it matches;
Bach flower remedies : balance the symptoms resulting from stress, acting on the causes. Each of us reacts differently to different stimuli, and what may be a source of stress for someone else may not have any destabilizing effect. Starting from the assumption that stress is an exaggerated and prolonged reaction to a stimulus interpreted as "threatening" and "urgent to solve", Bach flowers normalize the personal response and allow us to return to a state of balance if they have lasted too long weather stressful conditions.
Olive and Vervein help recharge your energy after a particularly challenging period and relax tensions. Other flowers can help, such as Oak, Elm, White Chestnut and Hornbeam, and all act on prolonged fatigue and the feeling of excessive responsibility;
Stress stop : stress stop is a mixture of Australian flowers designed specifically for those moments when you are subjected to prolonged stress. The mixture of these Australian flowers allows one to find calm and to center oneself, helping those who take it to distinguish between priorities and to access their resources without being overwhelmed;
Nutrition is an important support for those subjected to stress: supplementing with foods containing B vitamins, magnesium and potassium, helps alleviate fatigue and decrease the production of cortisol and adrenaline. It is also not advisable, during moments of overload, to introduce exciters such as caffeine, theine, alcohol, smoke, and sugars: the sensation of immediate "charge" they give only serves to exhaust the energy, temporarily, leaving even more tired, tense and exhausted;
For at least 15 or 20 minutes, it allows the body to move and release excess energy that is produced and stored when we are under stress. Oxygenating the body and the mind helps, as does meditation, to put a stop to the frenetic rhythm by often seems to be unable to break away;
Sun exposure : protracted stress exhausts the body but also the mind, and can lead to physical fatigue and apathy or depression. Exposing yourself to sunlight for as long as possible during the day allows you to regulate mood. The ideal would be at least half an hour every day, but even just the journey to work or to make two bus stops while moving from one destination to another is more than useful;
Infusions and herbal teas : the most famous infusion is that of chamomile. You can drink it in large quantities during the day, being careful not to leave it in infusion for more than three minutes, time beyond which the chamomile becomes a tonic rather than a sedative. The hawthorn, the linden, the lemon balm: they are all easily available herbs that help to restore the balance of the body, also calming the mind;
D orm and rest are necessary activities for those who are under stress. Stress leads to poor sleep and sleep disturbances, and the few hours of sleep fuel stress. It is a vicious circle from which it is difficult to get out. For this reason it is absolutely and absolutely necessary to dedicate the right time to a quality rest. If the head and the body continue to work autonomously even during the hours we should devote to sleep, we can help ourselves with the infusions we have written above, with meditation and deep relaxation: once the mind stops the body will collapse under the weight of fatigue;
Acupressure self-treatment : there are points that allow you to relax the nerves. Some of these need to be performed by experienced operators, others can be treated by themselves. These are the points on the hands and feet. The hand massage can be performed at the points located at the base of the neck, at the temples, and at the point between the two eyebrows.
A foot massage, on the other hand, can be performed even without having reflexology, it is relaxing and at the same time regenerating: massage the soles of the feet, pressing on the soft parts, and the back, taking care to press between the grooves of the metatarsals.
