Hello!

Join Login
Learn More

Article Top tips to stress less – how stress is impacting your health

By Desiree Taylor
By

28 Comments

Do you race through your day desperately trying to get to the finish line to only end up completely exhausted, wired and tired?

Do you have stubborn weight that you just cannot shift despite your great diet and exercising?

Do you get thrown “off course” and feel like you personally take a hit when a stressful situation in your life arises or someone is difficult to you?

If the answer is yes to the above, then you are probably feeling a bit stressed. But don’t worry beautiful, you are definitely not alone. As a busy mum it is inevitable to encounter stress on a daily basis and most of the time it cannot be avoided.

However, there are things you can do to assist your body during these times of high stress so you can become a happier, healthier version of yourself! 

So how does stress impact your health? 

There is one key body system that is prevalent in how stressed out, wired and tired you can get and that is your Automatic Nervous System (ANS). Your ANS consists of your Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS) and Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS). Your SNS is your “fight or flight” response, while your PNS is your “rest, digest and repair” response.

Stress can be physical, mental or emotional, and the system that is affected the most by any type of stress is your Sympathetic Nervous System (fight or flight response). When you perceive stress or are physically stressed, your sympathetic nervous system raises your heart rate, increases your respiratory rate, releases cortisol (long term stress-coping hormone), adrenalin (store term stress coping hormone) and directs blood away from your digestive tract so your body is ultimately unable to digest, rest or repair itself.

When adrenalin is pumping through your system as a result of your body perceiving danger, sugar is dumped into your blood for your body to use to get you out of the situation (such as preparing you to run or flee) and insulin (primary fat storage hormone) is then released into your blood stream to deal with the blood sugar spike.

Although, in today’s world, the danger is perceived and you are often sitting at your desk or on the couch!

Therefore, this excess insulin pumping through your blood stores as fat and when your blood sugar spikes, it has to come down. That massive drop can leave you feeling completely exhausted which can have you searching for more sugar or caffeine to pick you up again! It is a vicious cycle and long term, this vicious cycle can lead to many health problems such as; a slow metabolism, fat storage in your cells, blood glucose problems (diabetes), chronic low-level inflammation and not to mention long term fatigue and much more.

Diet (caffeine, sugar, white processed carbs and alcohol) plays a huge role in the activation of your sympathetic nervous system, but your emotional patterns, your choices and attitude also contribute on the highest level.

Here are a few suggestions to try, so you can start slowing down, relax into your day and ultimately – stress less:

  1. Eliminate or cut down on your caffeine, sugar, alcohol and white processed carbohydrates. This can give you a sense of “false, short-term energy” while depleting your natural energy levels and causing stress to your body.
  2. Ditch seeking approval and acceptance from others and learn to love and accept yourself! This starts with putting yourself first, unapologetically! If you are not healthy or happy, it is very hard to give your full energy to others in your life. Learn to say “NO” and stop people pleasing!
  3. Take breaks during your day to sit in stillness. Sitting in stillness and being alone with your thoughts, gives you space to process situations and release the chaos. A great way to do this is by through meditation or some deep belly breathing. (Exercise: Sit with your eyes closed in a comfortable position, place your hand on your belly and slowly breathe in through your nose expanding your belly to the count of 3. Then breathe out through your nose to the count of 4 deflating your belly.)
  4. Get a good night’s sleep. Most importantly get to bed early, before 10pm.
  5. Keep a gratitude journal. This can remind you of all the good things you have in your life.
  6. Change your thoughts and you will change your life! We all have choices we can make. Stress is perception, and it is up to us to determine how we perceive a situation. Take a minute to think of what is really important to you in life and it can help you gain some perception on the situation. You might even need to release your attachment to outcomes and just enjoy the journey and process of life.

Do you feel that stress is impacting on your health? Please share in the comments below.

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.com

We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.

Share this

Comments

  • I have found that I handle stress very well. I dont know why this is so but it is.

    Reply

  • Great tips and things to think about.

    Reply

  • I really love your articles. They are practical and offer things that are manageable to put in place.

    Reply

  • I have a panic disorder so stress and anxiety are huge for me. Its important to just do whatever you need to do to feel alright

    Reply

  • Stressing less is hard to do. Love the gratitude journal.

    Reply

  • Such a big problem for so many. Thanks for the great tips.

    Reply

  • great tips, thanks. I’m on anti depressants which well me

    Reply

  • Over the years I have found that sleep and good diet are the best treatment (and prevention) for stress.

    Reply

  • Stress is definitely an issue for me. I know I need to cut back on sugar but it ain’t easy.

    Reply

  • Good tips,time-out to yourself is very important and just relax after a stressful day!

    Reply

  • In years gone by I believe stress was definitely affecting my health. Over the past couple of years I’ve practised a few of the points above and definitely noticed a difference. I won’t allow myself to be constantly stressed anymore. Certainly there are some times when it’s unavoidable, but it’s not my main feeling or experience during the day. I have a gratitude journal, I do yoga, I’m more about me, and as I get older I care less about what others think of me. I can’t control that, so I concentrate more on what makes me happy and what I can do for others.

    Reply

  • Good tips ! I think it’s most important the way you look and approach things yourself. I always find it helps to take one day at the time, one thing at the time and look at the things you can do, not the things you don’t…

    Reply

  • I am beyond stress these days like you describe, however I still stress out over sick relatives.

    Reply

  • I have had a constant battle with my weight and have wondered if stress played a part. There’s a couple of things on this to do list I will be trying to reduce my stress levels. Fingers crossed

    • Thanks for your comment and reaching out. Stress always plays a crucial role in weight gain unfortunately and it is not just the physical stress but emotional stress as well that takes a toll eventually. If you are feeling stuck or overwhelmed, I would love to help. You can book in for a 30 minute health consultation with me at http://www.freeyourselfholistichealth.com.au so we can explore how you can change or deal with your stressors better. All the best, Desiree x

    Reply

  • I recently started each day writing down something positive about my life. I am aamzed at how well that has changed my outlook. because every single day you are saying your life is great I have felt less stress over the small things.

    Reply

  • Thanks for all your wonderful comments ladies. Always happy to help and I will provide some further reading for you in the future weeks to come as this is my area of expertise. Are there any topics in particular you would like to hear about?
    You can also subscribe to my regular blog and Free Yourself TV at http://www.freeyourselfholistichealth.com.au

    Reply

  • Thank you for the tips!

    Reply

  • Definitely ditch needing the approval of others- it is pointless and unproductive in every way!

    Reply

  • I have a issue with my liver making too much insulin even when I adhere to a strict diet as instructed by 2 medical professionals at all. I have a few stress issues so maybe that is my trigger. I am and have always been a light sleeper.

    • Thanks for your comment. Yes stress unfortunately can be the ultimate demise of most of our health conditions despite how well we are eating. I work with my clients on an emotional and mental level, tapping into the subconscious mind to release negative emotions and change your perception of stress so it is not a trigger on the body. If you would like to book in for an initial 30 minute health review with me for some guidance you can do so at http://freeyourselfholistichealth.com.au/pages/contact

      All the best on your journey. x

    Reply

  • Stress can have a huge impact on health. This article has some great advice.

    Reply
Post a comment

To post a review/comment please join us or login so we can allocate your points.

Join Login

↥ Back to top

Thanks For Your Star Rating!

Would you like to add a written rating or just a star rating?

Write A Rating Just A Star Rating
Join