11/24/2009 5:00:00 AM
Physician's Corner: De-Stressing During the Holidays
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By Anne Dunn
Fitness Trainer
Gaylord E. Leslie Wellness Center for Healthy Living
Thanksgiving is here and Christmas is right around the corner. With the days becoming shorter and to-do lists growing longer, it's likely you're feeling frazzled. Can you say STRESS? It creeps into your life, saps your energy, and makes you bad-tempered. Did you know that it also harms your health?
Anxiety causes chemicals to release into your blood stream. If the source of stress goes away, chemical levels subside. But if your body is constantly reacting to stress, the cumulative effects of the chemical reaction cause fatigue, irritability and an increased susceptibility to illness or disease.
Studies have linked stress to both cancer and heart attacks. It can also cause other health problems, including high blood pressure, anxiety, headaches, gastrointestinal distress, depression, anger and violence.
Take Control
• If tension is getting to you, talk to your doctor. He or she can suggest lifestyle changes or prescribe medication to help you manage your stress.
• Learn to relax. Your health insurance plan as well as a local gym or community center may offer classes in meditation, anger management techniques and stress-reducing exercises such as yoga or Tai Chi.
Take time to breathe. Sitting in a relaxed position and concentrating on slowing your breathing elicits a relaxation response.
• Take care of yourself. Get enough sleep, eat a healthful diet and exercise regularly.
• Walk away from it all. Take breaks throughout your day. Go for a stroll during your lunch break. Find a quiet spot to relax. Just 10 to 20 minutes of quiet time relieves chronic stress by decrease blood pressure and breathing rate, as well as calm you down so you are better able to collect your thoughts.
• Do what you enjoy. Listen to music, enjoy a hobby or visit with friends.
• Share your feelings. Turn to friends and loved ones for support and guidance.
• Practice and prepare. Imagine ways to handle a stressful situation. "Visual rehearsal" can help you picture a situation and defuse it before it happens.
• Find perspective. Even complicated problems become more manageable when they are broken down into smaller parts. Focus on one small task. Then move on to the next. Steady progress can reduce your anxiety.
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