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Humans are estimated to have used plants medicinally for as long as we have existed.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s been said\u2014Mother Earth provides everything we need, in nature, to survive and thrive. I personally like to take the natural route to soothe everyday stressors, so let\u2019s do a brief breakdown of stress and some natural remedies to self soothe and cope.<\/span><\/p>\n Stress is your body\u2019s way of responding to any kind of demand or threat. When you sense danger\u2014whether it\u2019s real or imagined\u2014the body\u2019s defenses kick into high gear in a rapid, automatic process known as the \u201cfight-or-flight\u201d reaction or the \u201cstress response.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n The stress response is the body\u2019s way of protecting itself. When working properly, it helps you stay focused, energetic, and alert. In emergency situations, stress can save your life\u2014giving you extra strength to defend yourself\u00a0 or the ability to act quickly and instinctively.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Stress can also help you rise to meet challenges. It\u2019s what keeps you on your toes during a presentation at work, sharpens your concentration when you attempt anything you consider to be high risk, or drives you to study for an exam rather than indulge in your favorite past times.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Beyond a certain point, stress stops being helpful and starts causing major damage to your health, mood, productivity, relationships, and your overall quality of life. Ongoing and chronic stress have been linked to a variety of health concerns.<\/span><\/p>\n In our fast paced society high stress levels are normalized because everyone knows the drill. There are expectations, obligations, priorities, and deadlines to meet! It has become normal to ebb and flow through states of being overwhelmed and frazzled\u2014but how often are we slowing down in an attempt to regulate stress levels and bring the nervous system back into balance?<\/span><\/p>\n When you live with chronic stress the nervous system becomes dysregulated and disrupts nearly every system in your body. The nervous system isn\u2019t very good at telling the difference between a real threat, such as being attacked and a perceived threat such as paying the bills on time, a fall out with a loved one, or a deadline that must be met.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n If you are living with chronic stress as the status quo, i<\/span>t can suppress your immune system, upset your digestive and reproductive systems, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, and speed up the aging process. Stress can disrupt sleep patterns, exasperate skin problems, cause weight loss or weight gain, and agitate pain of any kind.<\/span><\/p>\n Beside the physical effects, ongoing stress can have negative effects on your emotions as well. Irritability, anxiety, mood swings, and depression are just a few.<\/span><\/p>\n Anything that puts high demands on you can be stressful. This includes positive events like buying a house, getting married, having a baby, or planning for any significant event.<\/span><\/p>\n Of course, not all stress is caused by external factors. Stress can also be internal or self-generated, when you worry excessively about something that may or may not happen, or have pessimistic thoughts about life. What causes stress is partially based on your perception. Some things that you perceive as stressful, someone else might thrive at and enjoy it.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Other factors, such as experiencing traumatic events past or present can cause chronic stress and be triggered in everyday life. PTSD can have you living in a constant state of fight or flight and is really hard on your body, mind, and quality of life. Reach out, and begin the recovery process if that\u2019s what you are experiencing.<\/span><\/p>\n It\u2019s important to seek help from a professional to narrow down how stress is affecting you so that the proper course of action can be taken. For some, it may mean incorporating exercise, planning a day to rest, or having fun implemented into their life may be all they need. For others, it\u2019s important to determine if medical attention is needed or if seeing a Therapist would be most beneficial.<\/span><\/p>\n Other lifestyle changes can look like ensuring you get enough sleep, eating healthy foods, making time to connect with loved ones, breathing deeper, and starting a self care routine. These examples seem small but compound over time. Try not to get overwhelmed about making any changes, the goal is to reduce stress so start from wherever you are with what you can.<\/span><\/p>\n Plants have been used for thousands of years to treat many different ailments. More research is needed but <\/span>each remedy claims to do something a little different, on the whole body. Always consult your doctor when trying new supplements to ensure there will be no negative interactions with any pre-existing medications or conditions. These remedies are meant for informational purposes only, always do your own research!<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\nWhat Is Stress?<\/b><\/h2>\n
How Much Is Too Much?<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Effects Of Chronic Stress<\/b><\/h2>\n
The Root<\/b><\/h2>\n
Lifestyle Changes<\/b><\/h2>\n
Alternative Remedies To Reduce Stress<\/b><\/h2>\n
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