Stress affects us all. You may notice symptoms of stress during busy times at work, when trying to manage your finances, or when coping with a bereavement . A little stress is okay and some stress is actually beneficial but too much stress can wear you down and make you sick, both mentally and physically.
What Is Stress?
Stress is the body’s reaction to harmful situations whether they’re real or perceived. When you feel threatened, a chemical reaction occurs in your body that allows you to act in a way to prevent injury. This reaction is known as “fight-or-flight” or the stress response. During the stress response, your heart rate increases, breathing quickens, muscles tighten, and blood pressure rises.
Stress means different things to different people. What causes stress in one person may be of little concern to another. Some people are better able to handle stress than others. And, not all stress is bad. In small doses, stress can help you accomplish tasks and prevent you from getting hurt. For example, stress is what gets you to slam on the brakes to avoid hitting the car in front of you. That’s a good thing.
Our bodies are designed to handle small doses of stress. But, we are not equipped to handle long-term, chronic stress without ill consequences.
What Are the Symptoms of Stress?
Stress can affect all parts of your life, including your emotions, behaviors, thinking ability, and physical health. No part of the body is immune.
Emotional symptoms of stress include:
- Becoming easily agitated, frustrated, and moody
- Feeling overwhelmed, as if you are losing control or need to take control
- Having a hard time relaxing and quieting your mind
- Feeling bad about yourself (low self-esteem), and feeling lonely, worthless, and depressed
- Avoiding others
Physical symptoms of stress include:
- Low energy
- Headaches
- Upset stomach, including diarrhea, constipation, and nausea
- Aches, pains, and tense muscles
- Chest pain and rapid heartbeat
- Insomnia
- Frequent colds and infections
- Loss of sexual desire and/or ability
- Nervousness and shaking, ringing in the ears, and cold or sweaty hands and feet
- Dry mouth and a hard time swallowing
- Clenched jaw and grinding teeth
Cognitive symptoms of stress include:
- Constant worrying
- Racing thoughts
- Forgetfulness and disorganization
- Inability to focus
- Poor judgment
- Being pessimistic or seeing only the negative side
Behavioral symptoms of stress include:
- Changes in appetite, either not eating or eating too much
- Procrastinating and avoiding responsibilities
- More use of alcohol, drugs, or cigarettes
- Having more nervous behaviors, such as nail biting, fidgeting, and pacing
How does massage therapy actually relieve stress?
Massage therapy is a proven method to help combat stress and reduce its negative effects on the mind and body. It has been shown that even just 10 minutes of massage therapy can activate the body’s natural happy hormones and leave you feeling more relaxed and less stressed.
The mood-enhancing benefits of massage therapy makes it easier to feel more calm and in control, reducing anxiety and naturally calming the body’s fight-or-flight response.
Massage helps to decrease stress by lowering the heart rate, relaxing muscles and releasing endorphins. Massage increases temperature in the body and promotes relaxation. Along with increasing brain serotonin and dopamine, the combination of these effects lead to a happier individual.
How does aromatherapy relieve stress?
Essential oils are made from flower, herb, and tree parts, like bark, roots, peels, and petals. The cells that give a plant its fragrant smell are its “essence.” When an essence is extracted from a plant, it becomes an essential oil.
Aromatherapy activates areas in your nose called smell receptors, which send messages through your nervous system to your brain.
The oils can activate certain areas of your brain, like your limbic system, which plays a role in your emotions. They can also have an impact on your hypothalamus, which can respond to the oil by creating feel-good brain chemicals like serotonin.
Research shows that aromatherapy can have health benefits such as:
- Eases stress, anxiety and depression
- Boosts feelings of relaxation
- Improves sleep
- Helps improve quality of life for people with long-term health problems like dementia
- Eases certain types of pain, including pain from kidney stones and osteoarthritis of the knee
- Fights bacteria when you put them on your skin
- Eases some of the side effects of cancer treatment, like nausea and pain
If you’d like to find out more about this why not pick up the phone to me and call me on 07958 394717 or fill in my contact form.
