Every day I hear someone talk about the terrible condition of the economy. Unemployment and declining retirement accounts are a common theme. These are very stressful issues for us. Worry about them can lead to more illness, more marital arguing and a general feeling of malaise. To address these issues, this month's newsletter is dedicated to practical stress reduction. You will find specific suggestions on what you can do, at home, today. I refer the reader to my website article on adrenal fatigue for a more in-depth discussion.
There are two basic flavors of stress: too much making you stressed and wired and too much making you stressed and tired. They share the same background in that both are dysfunctions of the adrenal glands. If you are stressed and wired the adrenal glands are responding to a big threat. If the threat is prolonged the adrenals will eventually fatigue. When the adrenals fatigue you become stressed and tired.
How do you know if you are stressed and tired or stressed and wired? Use this short outline to help you decide and of course, if you are not sure, ask Dr. Somner to assess you.
Stressed and Wired
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Tired but not able to sleep
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Constantly thinking, even about unimportant things
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Awaken with a feeling of anxiety and/or dread
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Short fuse, irritable
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Easily overwhelmed by daily responsibilities
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Wake up with what you need to do next on your mind
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Not able to relax and "smell the roses"
Stressed and Tired
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Loss of sexual interest
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Not able to manage daily things that used to be easy
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Irritable, cranky
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Never rested no matter how much sleep
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Hard to get up in the morning
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Craving for salt and/or salty foods
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Light headed when standing up quickly (low blood pressure)
What to do?
This is a very short list of some practical tips. Some tips apply to both conditions; some vary according to the condition.
For Both Conditions The Most Effective Approaches Are:
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Eat good, whole food. The first thing that tends to go out the window when we are under stress is food. We begin to crave sweets and carbohydrates. THERE IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR GETTING OFF AND STAYING OFF THE WHITE STUFF!!! Focus on eating whole fruits, unprocessed vegetables and free range poultry and organic meat.
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R & R. Relax and rejuvenate. More important than anything is taking the time to at least try to relax. Build it into the schedule. Find some time when you can spend ten minutes breathing deeply, doing a progressive relaxation exercise for yourself, doing something relaxing other than watching television.
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Have fun. Fun is usually equated with expenses. Money is in short supply these days.
Here are ten fun things to do for free or little cash outlay:
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Go for short day trips rather than an overnight, pack a lunch and have a picnic along the way Look for free events that are offered around the city
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Take advantage of our free museums and go to a museum for the afternoon
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Have a picnic with your family and friends; make it pot luck
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Spend time with your children playing at home
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Share DVD rentals; have friends over to watch the movie together or just pass it around
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Go for a walk or a bike ride with your friends or family
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Play Frisbee or a ball game outside with family
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Go for a walk and enjoy the scenery
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Play loud music and dance like crazy
Supplements for Stressed and Wired:
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Mellow mind (Ashwagandha)
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Innate Adrenal Response
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L-T (L-Theanine, glycine, glutamine)
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Taurine
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Anxiety control
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SerenX
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Rodex (Vitamin B6) time release
Supplements for Stressed and Tired:
