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5 Ideas on Stress Relief for Your Stomach's Sake

 
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Anxiety related image Photo: Getty Images

Maybe your stomach is churning in agreement over the many stresses life can lay on you: meeting deadlines, paying the bills, helping aging parents, fussing over your children, and so on.

An article in Everyday Health noted that the gut is often termed “the little brain” because it boasts the largest area of nerve connections outside your real brain. With all that neural activity and mind-body connection, digestive upsets are bound to happen. Peptic ulcers, trips to the bathroom, heartburn, stomach cramps and other joys of irritated digestion often ensue, thanks to stress.

Everyone can find stress-reduction tactics that work for them. If you need some new ideas on preventing stress-related stomachaches, though, here are five ideas to consider:

The practice of “mindfulness meditation” and its benefit to digestive problems has been in the news lately. Among the approaches being studied are gentle yoga postures and concentration on muscle relaxation in one body part at a time.

Positive thinking instead of pessimism enhances your health and well-being, according to a MayoClinic.com article. Recommendations include: learning to put a positive spin on things, identifying areas you can change, surrounding yourself with positive people and generally following a healthy lifestyle.

Those who follow Dr. Andrew Weil, a leading expert on alternative medicine, might be familiar with the breathing techniques he advocates as stress relievers. The techniques include ways to count your breaths, ways to exhale and inhale deeply and other methods to put internal tensions at bay. As Weil pointed out, the breathing exercises are simple and always available to you.

Physical activity can do wonders; find what works for you, whether it’s walking, jogging, swimming, bicycling or playing outdoors with the little ones. A friend with a stressful job recently sang the praises of tai chi, which combines gentle, rhythmic movements and controlled breathing.

Sometimes there’s nothing like a hot cup of herbal tea, and there are certainly many choices on the market. Popular brands usually include peppermint and/or chamomile, which are good bets.

Another consideration: Your stomach woes might well have causes beyond stress; it never hurts to discuss the issue with a health care practitioner.

Sources:

http://www.everydayhealth.com/digestive-health/the-gut-brain-connection.aspx

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/positive-thinking/SR00009/METHOD=print

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART00521/three-breathing-exercises.html

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/tai-chi/SA00087

Reviewed July 13, 2011
by Michele Blacksberg R.N.
Edited by Alison Stanton

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EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Lots of individuals feel that far too frequently their everyday life happens to be really busy or challenging. Through this day and age it's far too easy to discover yourself practically stuck and captured by responsibilities which really feel confusing and furthermore , as of this from time to time you end up wanting a less difficult living.

At times you may get recalling and keeping in mind the days of your child years when just about all you did was stay in the moment care free and at ease with living and all which was taking place around you.

Yet, the facts of the matter is that you may feel that perception of simpleness in your lifetime through recalling what is most critical to you. Knowingly choose to set away a few minutes per day for some fun activity or other things that could possibly give you joy.

As you drive or walk to work or to university allow yourself to bathe inside the wonder of a rose or view the clouds go by in their varied shapes and forms. You may bring good balance to the working hours of your day through getting aware about all the elegance which is all around you in each and every second.

And since you implement it, more and more you'll discover yourself relaxing and rediscovering your child like natures when you begin to one more time look at the world with a sense of awe and marvel.

If you want to enjoy a far more effortless yet satisfying living even when your lifetime is very much chaotic or complicated then you're going to need to start up meditating every single day. Contrary to popular belief, people who meditate every single day rapidly begin to realize the way it helps you become calmer in a fashion that leads to you experiencing less anxiety and pressure both at home and work that's one of the primary explanations why so many of us need more simpleness in our lives.

Billie,
Owner of http://stressrelief.t15.org/ , a blog intended for those who want to escape from their daily stress.

July 17, 2011 - 6:35am
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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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