Is Stress Good or Bad ?
Stress is usually thought of as a negative and destructive force in our lives, which can eventually lead to our physical or mental breakdown. The word is itself ambiguous as it is neither bad nor good. We need stress for our normal daily activity, but if the anxiety response becomes prolonged, real problems can occur. We all react to stress in different ways. Some people have mental, physical, emotional or behavioural symptoms or a combination of these.
What happens in our bodies when we get anxious?
Sympathetic nervous system ( stressed Part of us)
- Heart rate increases
- Increasing levels of Anxiety
- Mouth dries up
- Forehead tenses
- Eyes strain
- Jaws and teeth are clenched
- Distresses facial complexion
- Anger/hostility
- Perspiration increases
- Breathing becomes shallow and fast
- Blood vessels close
- Skin tightens
- Increased white blood cells
- Blood sugar increases
- Blood pressure increases
- Bladder relaxes
- Stomach butterflies/digestive system suspended
- Rest and digest - relaxed
Parasympathetic nervous system ( relaxed healing part of us)
- Heart rates decreases
- Breathing deepens and slows
- Salivation returns to normal
- Facial muscles relax
- Pupils return to normal
- Muscles relax
- Blood vessels return to normal
- Blood pressure reduces
- Blood sugar reduces
- Production of white blood cells inhibited
If you stay In the Stressed Sympathetic State for a Prolonged Period
It will lead to Exhaustion and Depression!
The stress response is healthy in itself. Too little is unhealthy, but too much is very bad for our physical and psychological health. The key issue is to learn the difference between the healthy pressure of a challenge, and excessive anxiety which causes distress and eventually, disease.
You can learn to be aware of your own stress response and then to neutralise it. Through relaxation exercises you can learn to reduce the intensity of the body's anxiety response, and replace it with a calmer physiological state in which self- healing naturally begins to occur.
Relaxation exercise to help you de-stress:
Allow approx. 5 minutes
Find a comfortable place to rest / lie down.
Scan down through your body and pay attention to how it feels.
In your imagination put a color on the tension
Begin clenching your hands by making a fist … relax them out
Point your toes up towards the ceiling…hold for 10…relax them out
Point your toes down towards the ground … hold for 10 …relax them out
Bring your shoulders up to your ears… hold for 10…relax them out
Wiggle your nose…close your eyes and hold them tightly…relax them out
Repeat the sequence again...
At Accomplish Change Clinics in Dublin we have over 20 years experience and 40,000 clinical hours and experience in helping you achieve positive change.
Book your appointment with Aisling Killoran or Ray Manning today on 01-2986507
