Stress Reduction Promotes Healthy Aging

Most of us are not aware of what stress can do to the body and mind.

Stress hurts the heart.  Stress can give you headaches, or make you feel beyond blah. Though negative stress can do many harmful things to your body and mind, sometimes a little stress can be good for you.  Balancing the types of stress is the key to living healthier.

If you live with unhealthy stress, you need to take action to reduce your exposure and negative response to it in order to preserve and enhance your health. You have many options to relieve stress.

Where does stress come from?

Stress develops from many different things. For instance, poor finances can make you feel stressed. Not paying your bills on time due to lack of funds can cause stress. Not having a job or raising kids can raise your stress levels beyond balance and tense relationships can wear on your nerves.

What does stress do to my body?

Stress can do a lot of silent harm to your body if you don’t learn how to handle it. It can control your emotional reactions, mindset, behaviors, bodily functions and so on. If you allow stress to control you, it can wear your reserves down to nothing, making you feel empty and useless. Stress can do a lot of damage to your body as well as your mind.

What can you do to relieve your stress?

Some of the simple things you can do to reduce stress include relaxing under a warm blanket or in cool area depending on the weather and enjoy a good book. Writing is another way to help you deal with stress. When you are over- stressed, write out how you feel, what you’re thinking, and so on. Expressing your feelings and emotions in writing is a great exercise and can be an effective release of tension. Put it to good use. Start off gently.  Avoid overdoing it, so that you learn to enjoy writing rather than feeling frustrated at the thought of writing.

You could also enjoy a nice warm, seal salt bath. Add some candles around the tub; soak and enjoy. There are many simple and easy ways that people can find relief from daily stress. You have to find the ways to relieve stress that work for you in your life.  Go with whatever works best for you.

If you can’t find a way to do it on your own perhaps you can visit a counselor, friend or family member, or a wellness doctor who can guide you to reducing your stress. Support is a great tool. Develop a support group that helps you make healthier choices, rather than consuming your energy.

What can I do so I am not so stressed?

One way to reduce stress is to decrease bad habits. Slow bill paying is an example. If you can, pay your bills on time. If you can’t pay your bills on time due to slow cash flow, pay something, at least enough to stop shut-off notices. You can also create a budget to help you learn to spend more wisely. Help is only a phone call or internet search away. Look in your phone book, talk to people in your area, and search online for possible financial solutions, help and support.  You just may find money available to help pay bills for those with low-income.

Another good way to avoid stress is to stay away from the people who regularly feed you negativity. If you have friends or family members who do this, let them go and find positive friends instead. It may not be easy but it can work wonders. 

Don’t forget, you can learn to eat healthier, exercise more and put away those things that consume your health. For instance, if you smoke, drink excessively, overindulge in junk food eating, use drugs, etc; you are overworking your nerves more than soothing them. Put these things behind you if possible; otherwise seek the help you need to get it done. You have options; explore your resources to learn what is available to you.