When we went to sleep in mid-March, we woke up to a different world that isolated us from our family and friends. It’s normal to react to a stressful situation with a heightened sense of worry and nervousness.
However, it’s important to learn to cope with anxiety and stress in a healthy way as long-term anxiety and stress can have a damaging effect on the mind and body.
One solution to combating long-term stress is finding a Naturopath in Melbourne that will teach you coping skills and addressing any concerns or stressors.
Finding a Naturopath or a natural therapist could be a great first step in learning coping skills to ensure you’re staying energised, positive, and as less stressed as possible.
Before booking your appointment, start identifying stressors that are having an impact on your daily life to work through with your natural therapist.
Identifying Stressors
Let’s start with understanding what stress is and how it occurs. According to Health Direct, stress is defined as “ an expected human response to challenging or dangerous situations…and experiencing stress is part of being alive.”
There’s a difference between motivational, short-term stress that can lead you to be alert, energetic, and productive and prolonged stress which can cause serious damage to your mind and body.
Think of the issues you’re currently facing and write them down. You may notice that your stressors originate from external events or pressures. Many external stressors include;
• Major life changes such as a new marriage, house or pregnancy
• Physical environment such as your location
• Unpredictable events such as the COVID-19 pandemic
• Workplace
• Social
Whilst these can seem like a major event, even a change in routine can cause stress.
Effects of Stress
Stress often enacts a ‘fight or flight’ response that releases the hormones of adrenaline and cortisol to prepare the body to deal with the upcoming challenge. When these hormones are released, they increased the heart rate, metabolism, and breathing rate.
For a short amount of time, your body is able to handle the stress, but chronic stress can lead to numerous medical issues. These include;
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Mood swings
• Anger and irritability
• Restlessness
• Feeling overwhelmed, unmotivated or unfocused
• Sleeping issues
• Memory issues
There are many techniques that allow you to manage stress in a healthy way including identifying your stressors, different breathing & relaxation methods, lifestyle changes and support others.
Effects of Anxiety
According to Headspace, “anxiety is more than feeling stressed or worried. It can be tough to cope, but with the right support, things can get better.” We learned above that stress can be our body’s response to a challenging situation, but anxiety goes a step further with physical changes in the body as a reaction. These can include;
• Faster breathing
• Racing heart
• Feeling tense
• Body aches (especially in the neck, shoulders, and back)
• Sweating
• Feeling dizzy
• Shaking
• Nausea
In addition to the physical response, the mental toll of anxiety stretches to include;
• Increased worrying
• Loss of control
• Difficulty in concentration
• Irrational worry
Anxiety or panic attacks can also be common, but it’s important to remember they’re only temporary and they will pass.
Coping with Stress and Anxiety
Before diagnosing yourself, see a medical professional before altering any behavior in a profound way. However, there are several things you can do at home to ease your stress and calm yourself down. These include;
• Taking a moment to breathe in a stressful situation
• Repeating to yourself that you’re okay
• Meditating
• Daily affirmations
• Increased reading and podcast consumption
• Exercising
• Practicing self-love, self-care, and self-kindness
If you’re trying the methods above and your stress is still impacting your life, please see us today at Vital Chi Wellness for a free 15-minute consultation for all new customers.
About Vital Chi Wellness
We help you find purpose, increase your confidence, overcome obstacles, and relieve stress through natural therapy, so you can achieve success in your career, health, relationships, and life. Our Melbourne Naturopath and wellness clinic in Blackburn is proud to offer you a comprehensive range of natural therapy solutions under one roof.
Naturopathy is key to our holistic health approach. We analyse imbalances of the mind and body to determine the cause of illness then provide treatment through non-invasive therapies, encouraging long-term wellness.
Book Your Consultation
As a special service to our clients, Vital Chi Wellness is pleased to offer you a free 15-minute appointment with one of our experienced Melbourne Naturopath practitioners so you can determine if natural medicine is right for you.
Contact our Melbourne Naturopath Blackburn clinic now on 03 9894 0014 to book in for your free consult with one of our experienced team members.
