Bend, Don't Break With Stress

 

Lately, I've been dealing with a ton of stress!  We've all been there, right?  Work.  Relationships.  Even driving stresses people.  Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs are my first choices.  Believe it or not, acupuncture is incredibly relaxing.  Many people say they feel sleepy and dreamy or lose sense of time while they rest.   For me the euphoric feelings after acupuncture last the rest of the day and my sense of ease in life lasts days or even longer.  You've got to try it!

There is a lot that we can do on our own too. Exercise is an amazing stress reducer.  It has even been compared with antidepressant medication in its results.  If you're physically able, try exercising an average of 20 minutes a day.  For me, the more intense the workout the better.  It really gets the qi and blood in the body moving and gets rid of any pent up energy I've been holding onto.  You might find that a brisk walk gives you all the same benefits.  

Americans rarely take the time for relaxation or meditation.  Be good to yourself and do it daily.  Start with about 5 minutes and work your way up to 20-30 minutes a day in one or two sittings.  Sit with good posture or lay down.  Put your hands just bellow your belly button.  Breath in and out into your lower abdomen with slow even breaths.  Pay attention to how your breath feels inside your body and as it passes through your nose.  I find it helpful to count each breath.  When my mind wanders (as it will!), I simply start back at 1 and start counting again. Here is a link to some audio files for guided meditation.

Diet is so important.  Avoid high protein foods like meats, dairy and egg.  I follow the McDougall diet and recommend it to many of my patients.  Any Organ/Meridian imbalance can be related with emotions.  Stress most often is related to a Liver Meridian imbalance.  Foods can be used like herbs to help balance the body.  Common foods that aid the liver are: onions, garlic, asparagus, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, and celery.

I know that sleeping is critical to getting my stress under control.  Somehow that doesn't  matter when I wake at 2am mentally ruminating. . .  It helps to meditate for a few minutes before bed.  Focus on anything else especially your breath work.  Caffeine can be enough to cause anxiety and it keeps us awake.  Don't consume caffeine after 12pm or better yet, eliminate it completely.  Alcohol is a depressant and aggravates that aspect of stress.  A glass of wine may help with stress initially but beyond moderation it can have a terrible effect on your overall moods.  It will make you fall asleep but the sleep can become restless.  

Ekhart Tolle likes the Mantra 'This too will pass.'  I love this!  As big as my situation feels.  It is only temporary.  No need to go over the past over and over.  No need to go over all the potential scenarios that could become the future.  We only have now.  It is the only thing that is real.

A man is born gentle and weak.
At his death he is hard and stiff.
Green plants are tender and filled with sap.
At their death they are withered and dry.
Therefore the stiff and unbending is the disciple of death.
The gentle and yielding is the disciple of life.
Thus an army without flexibility never wins a battle.
A tree that is unbending is easily broken.
The hard and strong will fall.
The soft and weak will overcome.(Tao Te Ching, LXXVI) 

Stephen Durell, Dipl. Ac.

www.AcupunctureOfWestMichigan.com

616.855.7718