Dr. Carrie Jones: 10 Ways To Destress This Holiday Season

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Out with the Old and in with the New

Fall has fallen and in many areas we are moving right into winter. This means ‘tis the season is right around the corner. As much as we love the holidays, they are a time of stress for many of us that one might come to believe a 10 month break in the calendar was done on purpose.

You see, the stress response is not triggered by what happens in life, rather how you respond to it. What is deemed stressful to you may not be perceived in that manner by someone else and it’s your response that determines the difference.

Biologically, the stress response is meant to be short lived. We encounter a situation, our stress hormones quickly activate and when everything is said and done they should return to normal. The problem is our stress hormones respond to ACTUAL stress (your in-laws are here unannounced), ANTICIPATED stress (your in-laws are on their way) and IMAGINED stress (there is always a chance they will show up – they always do).

Even if a situation doesn’t exist, if in your mind it exists then it’s imagined and anticipated and your body reacts as if it’s actual.

Stress can be emotional, psychological, biochemical, hormonal, physical and environmental. We experience all of these aspects on a daily basis however, they are pushed to the maximum around the holidays despite our best efforts.

Another unfortunate fact is that stress is cumulative. That means back-to-school shopping in August/September rolled right into last minute Halloween costumes in October, combining with Thanksgiving preparation in November and ending on a month of celebration this December.

Did you ever let yourself recover from the summer?

Your stress hormones are also quite talkative. In fact, they communicate faster than teenagers on myspace. All of your hormones (not just the stress ones) check in with each other every second of every day. Because your body works as an entire system functioning in unison, it is very important to understand that some of your symptoms may be in an effort to get you to slow down and take care of yourself.

So, how will you de-stress this holiday season?

1) Take time for yourself. Even something as little as five minutes each and every day where you turn off from the world and tune in to yourself will help. Allow yourself to relax, let your mind drift and focus on nice deep breathing. Pull your shoulders away from your ears several times a day and stretch those muscles.

2) Eat a healthy diet and absolutely DO NOT skip meals. Skipping meals (even breakfast) is quite stressful to your body.

3) Make sure you are getting enough sleep. Sleep recharges everything in order to begin another day.

4) Get your stress vitamins. Unlike animals, humans are unable to make their own Vitamin C which is an important adrenal vitamin along with the entire line of B-vitamins, especially B5.

5) Consider herbal support, but only after talking with a qualified healthcare practitioner. There are many herbs available that are supportive to the adrenal glands and stress, however they all do different things and may or may not be appropriate for you.

6) Consider your stress response. According to James Wilson, ND’s book, Adrenal Fatigue, you can either change the situation or change how you respond to the situation because unfortunately we are often unable to change how others respond to us. A great thing to remember is that there is always a choice. How you choose to respond is up to you.

7) Get a “NO” button. Setting your boundaries and your priorities early will help alleviate the stress later. It's okay to use the word ‘no.’ See number six and make it your choice.

8) Recognize your stress. Really examine the issues surrounding your stress and learn to recognize when you are there. What changes can you make even if they are small and subtle?

9) Create a schedule, make a list and get organized. Throw out old clothes, old mail, old magazines and old junk sitting around. You don’t need that in your life weighing you down.

10) Read this article again. Pull it out when you feel like everything is too much and that this time you may actually rip all of your hair out. If things are really bad, don’t be afraid to ask for help – professional or otherwise. Again, this is you and your well-being we’re talking about and you’re worth it!

BIO:
Dr. Carrie Jones is a Naturopathic Physician with a focus on women’s health and hormones. She has a private practice outside of Portland, Oregon and is an adjunct professor at The National College of Natural Medicine.

Visit Dr. Jones at her websites:
www.naturalwomenshealthcare.com
http://thehappyhealthywoman.blogspot.com

To share ways you de-stress with the EmpowHer community, visit https://www.empowher.com/share.