Assessing the effects of stress on your health

Are you aware that stress impacts us in many more ways beyond the feelings of overwhelm and irritability we usually associate with it?

Most of us have heard about the big 'life events' that are considered major sources of stress, including:

• Getting married

• Getting divorced

• Death of a loved one

• A move

• A change of job

• Becoming parents

However, this list does not account for the chronic stress created by job pressures, financial worry, overloaded schedules and difficult family dynamics that many Americans live under. Living in a state of ever-present stress means that our bodies are constantly exposed to stress hormones and our sympathetic nervous systems are locked into overdrive.

With time, this begins to have serious effects on our health (The damage of stress to our health & how to protect against it). Signs that stress is begun damaging your health include:

• Difficulty sleeping

• Anxiety and/or depression

• Anger, frustration

• Diarrhea (possibly alternating with constipation)

• Neck and shoulder stiffness and pain

• Fatigue even after a good night's sleep

• Abdominal pain and tension

• Headaches

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, I would recommend you find ways of lowering chronic stress in your life. One very effective way of doing this is through acupuncture. I always say that one of the main 'side-effects' of receiving acupuncture is a wonderfully relaxed feeling of deep peace and calm. It feels like the release of a deep sigh, leaving you ready to face the world again. By bringing your body into a more relaxed parasympathetic nervous system state, you will not only increase your well being, but also protect your health and prevent disease.

I would love to help you manage stress, so call me for a free consult and to find out if acupuncture can help you.