Stress is everywhere and a constant factor in our lives. Maybe you’re worrying about your finances and trying to pay bills. Perhaps you’ve fractured your wrist or suffer from arthritis. Stress can lead to headaches, fatigue, sleeping problems, and high blood pressure, which, in turn, can all lead to increased risks of stroke or heart attack. Being able to manage your stress should be a huge priority. When it can impact your health so fully, is there any way to achieve serenity when the stressors are constantly building?
As it turns out, there are a few ways.
First, let’s get into the different kinds of stress. There’s physical stress, like those received from injuries. These can be anything from a pulled muscle to a fractured bone. Next is mental stress — worry and tension that can lead to harmful physical effects. This tends to develop into emotional stress, which can present as anger or anxiety. Maybe you’re living paycheck to paycheck, and you’re not sure if you’ll be able to pay rent at the end of the month.
It’s easy to become stressed, but what about relieving it and reaching a state of peaceful serenity? There are tons of anti-stress medications available, but do they actually work? And what about the side effects? After all, there’s no sense relieving stress if it’s going to cause further damage to your body.
Reflexology is an alternative healing method for relieving physical stress that focuses on applying pressure to certain areas of the body. At least 27 studies show that reflexology can help reduce pain, and 19% of people suffering from chronic headaches were able to cease taking their medication entirely after having reflexology work done. A well known example of reflexology is acupuncture, which focuses on inserting thin needles into the body at specific points. Acupuncture originated in China but has since found its way to the States, with more than three million Americans having tried it at some point in their lives.
Yoga, a series of postures and breathing exercises to help control the mind and body, and meditation, a self-induced state of calm thoughtfulness, are effective methods of stress relief that help build toward a healthy lifestyle. Wellness, serenity, and health are the top three reasons many Americans decided to practice yoga. A mere three weeks of daily yoga is all it takes to reduce blood pressure. Meanwhile, daily meditation has helped 75% of insomniacs fall asleep within twenty minutes of going to bed.
Why suffer from stress when you don’t need to? Reflexology, yoga, and meditation all are excellent ways to reduce every kind of stress, and unlike medication, there are no harmful side effects. Stress may be everywhere, but that doesn’t mean you have to be stressed.