Stress is a word that doesn’t need any explanation in today’s fast-paced life. Everyone is experiencing stress in one way or another. The factors that cause stress are often referred to as stressors and everyone has different stressors to battle with.
When will stress cause a threat to health?
A small amount of stress for a shorter duration can stimulate the secretion of stress hormones as an immediate response and it is beneficial as it will prompt us to address challenges in our lives. This type of stress usually does not pose a health risk.
But stress level exceeds tolerable limits and persists for a longer duration and if the person fails to cope with it then it is called chronic stress and it is having an adverse impact on health.
What are the common factors that cause chronic stress?
- Work pressure and students’ school-work pressure
- Relationship issues
- Financial crisis
- Death or separation of a loved one
- Major challenges in life like shifting to a new place, new job, etc
What are the negative health consequences of chronic stress?
Stress can affect a person physically, mentally, and emotionally, giving rise to health issues.
Physical symptoms of stress include:
- Feeling tired
- Repeated Headaches
- Upset stomach, including diarrhea, constipation, and nausea
- Aches, pains, and tense muscles
- Chest pain and rapid heartbeat
- Insomnia (loss of sleep)
- Frequent attacks of colds and infections
- Loss of sexual desire and ability
- Nervousness and shaking, ringing in the ears, and cold or sweaty hands and feet
- Dry mouth and a hard time swallowing
Cognitive symptoms of stress include:
- Constant worrying
- Racing thoughts
- Forgetfulness and disorganization
- Inability to focus
- Poor judgment
- Being pessimistic or seeing only the negative side
Emotional symptoms of stress include:
- Becoming easily agitated, frustrated, and moody
- Feeling overwhelmed, as if you are losing control or need to take control
- Having a hard time relaxing and quieting your mind
- Feeling bad about yourself (low selfesteem), and feeling lonely, worthless, and depressed
- Avoiding others
- Stress can induce behavioral changes like changes in eating habits – either not eating or eating too much, avoiding responsibilities, addiction to alcohol, drugs, or cigarettes, having more nervous behaviors, such as nail biting, etc.
Ayurvedic Stress coping strategies
According to Ayurveda stress can cause doshic imbalance inside the body and this variation can lead to so many health issues.
Identify and avoid stressors (Nidana Parivarjana): the first rule of Ayurvedic treatment is Nidana Parivarjana means staying away from causative factors. So, identifying the stressor and planning ways to avoid or overcome it is key.
Incorporate regular physical activity (Vyayama):
Physical activity is a must thing. Engaging in Physical activities like exercise, walking, and Yoga Practice helps to reduce mental tension.
Practice Meditation and breathing techniques (Dhyana and Pranayama):
Practice Meditation and Pranayama. These will help to calm the mind, and several reports suggest that these are highly recommended techniques to combat stress.
Ensure adequate sleep (Sukha Nidra):
Lack of sleep can lead to elevated stress levels hence getting quality sleep helps in reducing stress.
Follow a balanced diet (Ahara):
Consume a healthy and balanced diet. There are certain foods that are marked as stress busters such as nuts (eg: Almond), fruits ( eg:- Banana, orange), spices (Ginger, cardamom), herbs like Brahmi. These food articles should be incorporated into the diet.
Consider undergoing Panchakarma therapies:
PanchaKarma therapies like Abhyanga (whole body oil massage) Shirodhara (pouring of liquid on forehead in a synchronized manner) Shiro Abhyanga (head massage) Padabhyanga (foot massage), Shiro pichu, etc can be opted after consulting a specialist.
Final Thoughts:
Chronic stress is a critical yet often overlooked health crisis. When left unmanaged it can take a toll on our health. A noteworthy point is stress shows its negative impact based on the way we respond to stress. Embracing Ayurvedic principles can be a powerful approach to combat chronic stress and a resilient mind and body.