“Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.” – Joseph Campbell
“If you can’t find joy in the path you are on and what you are working toward now, how do you expect to find joy when you get there?” – Anonymous
“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” – Oscar Wilde
This last year and ½ has found us battling a global pandemic. Yes, we have really been in combat. Our weapons of war have been masks, handwashing, distance, and isolation. No wonder we are exhausted, anxious, fearful, maybe just a little bit depressed. We certainly have earned these fruits of combat. We have endured prolonged stress, trauma, and often grief. The American Psychological Association did a poll and found 67 percent of US adults reported unwanted changes in sleeping habits since the pandemic hit, and nearly a quarter said they were drinking more alcohol than ever to cope with stress.
Many other health and mental health organizations have surveyed and noted the increased feelings of anxiety and anxiousness. It is possible for these mental and physical stresses to impact our lives for years to come.
Thank goodness there are tools available to help us to get where we would like to be. Mind-healing tools are within us. We just require a guided tour with easy to read signs! I have shared just a minimal amount previously about the positive impact yoga, mindfulness and meditation have on wellness are awesome!
Stress affects your body by releasing hormones to help you respond. Your heart rate goes up, your breathing becomes shallow because your brain is getting ready to fight or to take flight. But when there is neither a fight nor flight, you never really relax. The stress hormones keep pushing. The physical problems that can result are high blood pressure, heart conditions, gastrointestinal disorders, and a weakened immune system. Our most frequent symptoms of anxiety are physical symptoms, i.e., backache, shoulder and/or neck tension, headaches, stomach aches. We don’t jump to the conclusion of anxiety/depression. We have a headache! Thus, we don’t initially treat what the base problem is.
One simple tool is chamomile. The University of Pennsylvania did a study and found that people who took 500 mg of chamomile (of course the quality given by pharmacies) 3 times a day helped to reduce anxiety symptoms in the chamomile vs. placebo group. There were fewer side effects, and they did not relapse as quickly. Pleasant side effects reported were lower blood pressure and lower body weight. https://pubmed.ncbi.nih.gov/22894890/
Modulating your breath can help decrease stress in the moment. Take a deep breath through your nose and hold it for a second. Then breathe out through your mouth. Repeat this for 30 to 50 seconds. You will find you have slowed the racing of your heart. You may also notice your shoulder tension is somewhat released.
A short gentle stretch gives your body that same breath release. It’s like a big body yawn.
Do you always have a tech device in your hand? Do you carry it with you and use it when taking a walk? Allow yourself 30 minutes to an hour without contact to your tech devices. Look around, look up, sing, rap, two-step, whatever gives you joy. This will give your body, mind, and your spirit joy.
Everyone’s approach to stress is different. It only goes, then, that everyone’s way to deal with stress is different. For those of you on your digital devices, look up methods of dealing with stress and find one that works for you. You may have to try a few before you find one that feels right or gives you joy. And don’t overlook, counseling is an option, this now takes place online.