108
|
SPRING
2015
ESCARPMENT
®
WELLNESS
|
dealing with stress
Howdoes thebodydealwithstressors?
Youhave2 small glands, 1oneachkidney, calledadrenal glands. Theyproduce
several hormones that help regulate such things inyourbodyas sugars, salts, and
sexhormones. Theyalsoproduceadrenaline (epinephrine)andcortisol, tohelpyour
body 'adapt' toyour stressors. Theseare reallybusyglandsandcan, over time,
become 'fatigued'. Ongoing stress cancontribute to symptoms suchasheadache,
stomach issues, and sleepdisturbances. Left unchecked, it can lead tomore serious
issues suchashypertension, diabetesandheart disease. Thegoodnews is, this isnot
aone-way street!
Stressors
come inavarietyof forms. I like tobreak themdown into4categories:
•
environmental: eg. solvents inyourworkplace, newcarpet orpaint at home,
noisepollution
•
physiological: eg. extreme temperatures,missingameal orover-eating,
beingunder-hydrated
•
mental: eg.work load, deadlines, traffic,watching thenews
•
emotional: eg. relationships, your children/parents/spouse/friends
Solutions...
1.
Get ahandleonyour controllable stressors, thenyourbodywill bebetterable
tomanage thosewhichyouhave less control over.
[
create routine inyour life; even startwith1 thingyoudoona regularbasis,
at the same timeeachday
[
get a solid8hours sleepeachnight; stayingup late towatch thenewsor your
favourite latenight show isnot helping. If quality sleep isachallenge speak toyour
naturopathicdoctor (ND).
[
consumeat least half yourbodyweight (lb) inounces (oz)ofwater eachday
betweenmeals; finishby6pm
[
eat every4-6hours, finish3hoursprior tobedtime;work towardmakingyour food
choicesasnourishingaspossible
[
avoid food sensitivities
[
avoid rigorousexercise in theevenings (love-makingaside);
morning isbest for theseactivities
2.
Practiceactive relaxation; lyingon the sofamay feel relaxingbut it'snot actually
helpingyou.
[
meditation; if this isnew toyou joinaclass, searchonYouTube, aska friend
[
yoga; joinaclass, followavideo (I recommend the former)
[
walk in the forest; bequiet andpresent
3.
Treatments to specifically support healthyadrenal gland function; speak toyour
qualifiedhealthcareprovider.
[
oral supplementation
[
intravenous (IV) therapy
Thereareeven tests tocheckyouradrenal gland function.One isan in-office test
calledKoenisburg, another isa saliva test youcollect onyourown (4 times in1day).
Toget that tigeroff your tail, begin implementing someof these suggestions today.
Whenyouneedhelpcontact your localND toassessadrenal gland functionand
designaplan thatworks for you.
|E|
Why is it that when you arrive
late to a public talk on Stress
there is standing-room-only?
It used to be that 'stressors' were
short-lived, like being chased by
a sabre tooth tiger; you either
got caught or you got away,
in either case, the stressor was
no longer relevant. Nowadays it
seems we always have that
damn tiger on our tail... and our
bodies just can't take it.
SHELBYWORTS, ND
STRESSANDYOUR BODY
get the tiger off your tail
by ShelbyWorts ND
