Stress – the scourge of the modern world
Ever present, ever changing, sometimes more, sometime less. The stress reaction is our body’s way of protecting us against danger. It keeps us alert, ready to avoid danger and mobilises resources that allow us to run away from danger. It is designed to be temporary, to allow us to deal with the danger and then switch off. Well, that’s all well and good, but in today’s modern times that mechanism often doesn’t switch off and we go into overload ending up in and out of the Dr’s with seemingly unconnected problems that don’t appear to have a specific cause.
Put your hand up if you haven’t suffered any challenging moments this week? No-one? Hmmm, that’s the problem these days. It seems that not a day passes without some form of challenging situation affecting us. Be it our journey to work, the kids are ill/playing up/all need to go out at the same time to difference places, relationship problems, pressure at work etc etc etc. The list is endless. Added to that we are also constantly plugged in – to work, social media, the news, we feel as though we are missing out if we aren’t checking every few minutes to see what’s going on outside of our immediate situation and worry when we don't seem to be keeping up with our counterparts.
If we’re lucky we know we need to nourish ourselves and make an effort to eat well and take time out. More often than not though, we push ourselves ever harder, keeping ourselves going with stimulants such as caffeine and sugar and coming down with increasing quantities of alcohol, then wonder why we crash and become ill.
How often have you visited the GP with problems such as regular diarrhoea, stomach pain, nausea, cramping, bloating, headaches, achy joints, fuzzy head, feeling tired all the time, chest pains/rapid heartbeat, anxiety, difficulty in conceiving, loss of sex drive, frequent colds/infections (feel free to add your own particular symptoms to this list as there are many more)? Ongoing stress can also play a part in problems such as headaches, high blood pressure, heart problems, diabetes, skin conditions, asthma and arthritis.
You are put through a raft of tests only to be told, that it’s IBS, what do you expect with 3 young children at home, you’re approaching menopause, it’s your age, you need to cut down at work and either sent home with yet another prescription because your blood pressure is elevated, your blood sugar is too high, your cholesterol is out range etc or you’re told that nothing can be done and you have to live with it. Life becomes more and more difficult to manage and you end up dragging yourself through each day feeling worse and worse, but thinking you are going crazy because no-one seems to understand what you are coping with.
Well here’s the thing, I do understand and there’s plenty that can be done! Even making small changes to your diet and lifestyle can have a big impact on your health and wellbeing and help you to deal with the challenges of modern life. Why not contact me to arrange a free 30 minute consultation to find out how I can help you to regain control of your health and your energy and get you back to being you.