So what are the main types of stress and how do we balance them? There are six main areas:
• Physical stress (exercise) is required by the body to build strong bones – vital for a healthy life. However too much exercise can suppress the immune system and potentially cause chronic fatigue whilst not enough exercise leads to weight gain and depression.
• Chemical stress in the form of sunlight is good for the body as it produces vitamin D helping to regulate cortisol and melatonin levels; however we are bombarded daily with dangerous chemicals (in household and bathroom products food
pesticides etc) which can have a long lasting effect on poor health.
• Electromagnetic stress is good in the form of sunlight keeping us alive but bad if we get sun burnt or overexpose ourselves to computers mobile phones microwaves – all leading to physical mental and emotional dysfunction over time.
• Mental or psychic stress is a good thing; for example studying within your chosen career with research reports and deadlines (to achieve a particular goal) promotes
mental development and positive thinking without which the brain would not develop. However negative thoughts can be very damaging as can overwork and speaking/being spoken to with negative harsh words.
• Nutritional stress can be good and bad. Good when you eat the right food for your metabolic type so your body can engage in the processes of digestionassimilation and metabolising the food; but bad when you eat the wrong foods for your type and also ingest pesticides herbicides and other additives found in processed foods.
• Thermal stress is good when your body can successfully regulate it’s own temperature in both cold and hot environments but bad if you suffer from heat exhaustion or hypothermia.
Each of these stressors has an opposite – a yin and a yang. We need to encourage the positive aspects of the stressors in our everyday life and work to reduce/eliminate the negative. How then do we manage this?
Firstly we must be aware of exactly which stressors are affecting us in a negative manner. Try to identify the key stressors in your life. Go through those six areas described above and identify those you think are creating negative energy in your life. Often these stem from the most basic human needs – money relationships and food. With each stressor make a plan that will help to improve this area of your life – do your own research; seek advice from friends family or your health professional.
Look closely at what you are eating and drinking as this is often the catalyst for many other stressors. To work out your metabolic type go to http://www.natpro.ne: metabolic-typing.html. Once you know whether you are a protein carbohydrate of mixed type eat as much organic and unprocessed food as you can. Learn to read the labels in supermarkets and take your time when you do your weekly grocery shop. The toxins and chemicals in many modern processed foods are a significant cause of many emotional and mental conditions. Increase your water intake – we are made UD of 70% water yet most people are dehydrated. Just by drinking more quality filtered water many other seemingly uncontrollable stressors will be lessened. At the same time drink less tea coffee alcohol and soft/fizzy drinks – all these are associated with mental and physical degeneration.
Exercise is key to a healthy balanced you. Like food though exercise must be prescribed according to your individual needs. Trying to lose weight only by running for an hour every day could be doing more harm than good as we all need a mix of strength training cardio vascular and flexibility work. Aim for 2-3 body weight or gym weights sessions a week 4-5 days of 30 minutes interval cardio sessions and a weekly relaxation/ yoga/ pilates session. If you are already feeling physically and mentally stressed do more relaxation/ deep breathing and less strength/ cardio.
Lastly don’t underestimate the power of your thoughts. If your mind is awash with all the negative stressors you are trying to remove from your life you will just be attracting these things back in to your consciousness. You must refocus your thoughts. Try writing a list of all these negative influences on a piece of paper and then consciously throw the list in the bin. This will help your mind to dismiss everything on that list allowing you to focus on what really matters.
Positivity is the key to a healthy life. To really achieve that perfect balance of yin and yang we must be focusing on good things; aim to stress yourself but in a good way! Make 2010 a year of balance – have fun laugh lots sleep well eat wisely drink plenty of water exercise in a sensible manner – and your body will thank you!