Stressed?

Is your lifestyle killing you? Perhaps, probably, don’t know or of course it isn’t - may be some of the responses but would you really recognise the signs if you decided to take a serious look?

The body-mind relationship is a fascinating subject, both work in such beautiful harmony it’s difficult to separate them. Take for instance when you get embarrassed. It takes no time at all before you’re blushing; the body has responded immediately to the thought or emotion you just experienced in that moment.

It makes sense therefore to say that cells must be creating chemicals to enable these physiological responses to occur. In fact, a whole new science has been founded on just this subject called PNI otherwise known as Psychoneuroimmunology. A big word to describe the mind-body principle but if you want to know more, scientist Candice Pert’s book, Molecules of Emotion is easy to read and highly interesting in the discoveries she has made on this subject.

So why is this important to us in our everyday life? It means that every time we get stressed, as well as producing the normal hormonal stress responses we are also producing chemicals of emotions in our body. Whilst we can undertake activities to relax the body we also need to consider our emotional reactions and attitude to circumstances and situations and look to change the way we respond accordingly.

The pressures of life are always going to be there but our responses can be changed. In my Practice I notice time and time again that an individual’s symptoms will re-surface if they undergo a period of stress. Generally, patients will show multiple symptoms such as digestive problems, irritable bowel, headaches, period pain, heart palpitations, and so on.

Carrying on regardless without adequately ‘recharging’ and thinking you can work like the clappers and then rest during holidays is not a lifestyle I would recommend. This can lead to a crash with a cold during the holidays, or you could end up with adrenal exhaustion or more serious health problems later on.

Rather than denying you do not suffer anything as a result of pressures or stress it is wiser to consider how your body does respond under stress and what signs and symptoms you notice. Sometimes these can be pointed out to us by our close friends and family! Its being aware of them and doing something about them before the big ones set in.

Rumana is running some revitalisation retreats in March, May, July and September in the UK and Spain. For more details visit www.rumanahealth.com

Rumana Zahn is a Naturopath and Medical Herbalist and runs clinics in Newcastle (within a GPs practice), Darlington and Seaham Hall’s Serenity Spa. She is a leader within the field of Natural Medicine, writes and speaks extensively on the subject. She can be contacted on 01325 722803 or www.rumanahealth.com

Rumana is a member of the British Register of Complementary Practitioners.

 

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