Stress has become one of the main causes of poor health in the modern world. We all 'know' stress; we have all felt its impact upon us. But did we also know that we can easily and readily reduce it, saving ourselves the pain and anguish of many illnesses? It's time to remember how!
To some, stress is the constant fight against time, the deadlines of life, be it at home or in business, the nagging fear that there just isn't enough time. To others, stress is the feeling of tension in the muscles, lightheadedness, irritated digestive system - the body out of control! To all sufferers of stress, it is about being out of balance or in a state of 'dis-ease'. It does not have to be like this! The effect of stress can be varied and individual to each sufferer. The alarming fact is that many people suffering from stress are not even aware of this fact.
In a recent consultation with an elderly client of mine, when I pointed out the stress within her she replied, "Isn't everyone like that?' When I showed her how to relax and relieve the stress, she soon realised just how stressed she had been for many years and why she had been so ill.
It is only when we realise and acknowledge the stress, that we are then able to release it and move forward.
Throughout my 11 years of treating clients I have witnessed the impact of stress throughout practically every system, organ and gland within the human body.
Stress, be it physical or psychological (and both are intimately related), can disturb the function of every system within the body. The subsequent consequences of this stress will reveal itself in a way that is determined by the individual strengths and weaknesses of our bodies.
When we remove the stress factor - then our bodies are more able to heal and return to a state of balance. We need to prevent illness before it develops. We need to acknowledge the power and ability we all have in reducing the impact the 21st Century has upon us.
To help achieve this, we need to go back to basics. 'We are what we eat - as well as what we think". We need to feed our bodies with foods which restore, renew and heal. We need to be 'mindful' of our thoughts and actions every day. Simply stopping and 'being' for a few minutes each day will help relax our bodies, reduce tension, allow blood, lymph and 'life force' to flow more freely and bring us back to a state of balance.
We all need to remember that these simple steps towards the management and relief of stress will enable us to perform more effectively, heal more efficiently and live more comfortably. The choice is ours.
About the author: Peter Farnsworth (B.Sc., AMGNI, RCIrA, IIHHT) is a Complementary Health Consultant with over eleven years of experience in health analysis and treatment, stress management and wellness counseling. Peter has created and presents a free online audio relaxation course - available to all. Simply visit: http://www.stress.havemorefromlife.co.uk