Why is it that when you arrive late to a public talk on Stress there is standing-room-only?
It used to be that 'stressors' were short-lived, like being chased by a sabre tooth tiger; you either got caught or you got way, either way the stressor was no longer relevant. Nowadays it seems we always have that damn tiger on our tail... and our bodies just can't take it.
How does the body deal with stressors?
You have 2 small glands, 1 on each kidney, called adrenal glands. They produce several hormones that help regulate such things in your body as sugars, salts, and sex hormones. They also produce adrenaline (epinephrine) and cortisol, to help your body 'adapt' to your stressors. These are really busy glands and can, over time, become 'fatigued'. Ongoing stress can contribute to symptoms such as headache, stomach issues, and sleep disturbances. Left unchecked, it can lead to more serious issues such as hypertension, diabetes and heart disease. The good news is this is not a one-way street!
Stressors come in a variety of forms. I like to break them down in to 4 categories.
- environmental: eg. solvents in your workplace, new carpet or paint at home, noise pollution
- physiological: eg. extreme temperatures, missing a meal or over-eating, being under-hydrated
- mental: eg. work load, deadlines, traffic, watching the news
- emotional: eg. relationships, your children/parents/spouse/friends
1: Get a handle on your controllable stressors, then your body will be better able to manage those which you have less control over.
- create routine in your life; even start with 1 thing you do on a regular basis, at the same time each day
- get a solid 8 hours sleep each night; staying up late to watch the news or your favourite late night show is not helping. If quality sleep is a challenge speak to your naturopathic doctor (ND).
- consume at least half your body weight (lb) in ounces (oz) of water each day between meals; finish by 6pm
- eat every 4-6 hours, finish 3 hours prior to bedtime; work toward making your food choices as nourishing as possible
- avoid food sensitivities
- avoid rigourous exercise in the evenings (love-making aside); morning is best for these activities
2: Practice active relaxation; lying on the sofa may feel relaxing but it's not actually helping you.
- meditation; if this is new to you join a class, search on YouTube, ask a friend
- yoga; join a class, follow a video (I recommend the former)
- walk in the forest; be quiet and present
3: Treatments to specifically support healthy adrenal gland function; speak to your qualified health care provider
- oral supplementation
- intravenous (IV) therapy
There are even tests to check your adrenal gland function. One is an in-office test called Koenisburg, another is a saliva test you collect on your own (4 times in 1 day).
To get that tiger off your tail, begin implementing some of these suggestions today. When you need help contact your local ND to assess adrenal gland function and design a plan that works for you.