stress reducer
Most people are in need of some kind of stress reducer.
In today’s hustle and bustle world, people barely have time to breathe. People’s lives are completely filled with work, commuting, and doing regular everyday things like keeping house, preparing meals, etc., that stress levels in people are at an all-time high. The average person spends less time sleeping and more time working and commuting to and from work than they did just ten years ago. It’s no wonder people seem to get more and more stressed on a daily basis. Prescription medications like Xanax, Valium, and Ativan are being prescribed in record numbers. If you are one of the people who suffers from chronic stress, there are a few things you can do in order to make the most out of your life.
Sleep
Getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night is one of the keys to feeling less stressed. While it may seem completely unfeasible for some people to get more sleep, it is something which has been proven to not only extend your life, but to give you a better quality of life.
A lot of people just can’t seem to find enough hours in a day to get done everything they need to get done. As a result, they cut back on their sleep. This not only creates higher levels of stress hormones in a person’s system, but it lowers immunity, and can lead to weight gain and depression. Sleep is a natural stress reducer, and should not be sacrificed just to get more done in a day if you can help it. If you are finding you are sacrificing your sleep in order to make enough time in your day to work, do chores, etc., perhaps it is time to make some lifestyle changes. You will find that you are happier, healthier, and less stressed if you can start getting a better night’s sleep.
Exercise
The benefits of getting regular exercise are no secret. People who exercise regularly not only sleep better, but they have smaller waistlines, better self esteem and self image, and yes, are less stressed. Exercise releases endorphins into your blood stream, which are a natural stress reducer. Endorphins are “feel good” hormones, and make a person healthier and happier. They are responsible for the “runner’s high” many talk about. Not only does exercise release endorphins, but it also gives people the time they need to think about what stresses them on a regular basis. It is very easy to work out your financial stress while running on the treadmill. You are able to give a physical outlet to your mental worries, which results in a lot less stress.
Sex
Much like exercise, sex releases endorphins. It also causes your brain to release a hormone called oxytocin, which acts as a natural stress reliever in your body. Oxytocin is a chemical in your brain which acts a lot like opium–it gives people a euphoric feeling. People have an overall feeling of happiness and contentedness when they engage in sexual intercourse with a loving and committed partner.
Play
People who find time to engage in leisure activities have been proven to have less stress. Unfortunately, much like sleep, leisure activities are often the first things to be cut when a person has a full schedule. People often sacrifice things they find pleasurable to make a few more dollars, or to get housework done. It’s okay, though, to let the dishes pile up for an afternoon so you can take a pottery class or attend a wine tasting. People who engage in some kind of leisure activity at least once a week report having a fuller, more satisfying life, which leads to less stress.
Therapy
For people who seem completely overwhelmed by the stresses of daily life, or have problems which cannot be exercised away, talk therapy with a counselor or therapist can work wonders. Even if the therapist does not offer solutions outright, sometimes just the act of talking about a particular problem, stress, or worry can help ease your mind and act as a stress reducer. Therapy is a great way to keep perspective about what is a true stress, and what is a problem you have built up in your own mind. Therapy can also teach a person how to deal with stress in more effective means by communicating and openly expressing your concerns.
Medication
Sometimes there is just nothing you can do in order to help reduce stress in your life. There are certainly times when anti-anxiety medications are certainly in order. Perhaps somebody close to you has just died, or you are going through a difficult divorce, or a child is seriously ill. In these cases, as well as some other cases, medication is a good short-term solution as a stress reducer. It can help take the edge off anxiety in order to help you get a better grasp on the situation at hand. It can help people get through a really tough time until they are more emotionally capable of dealing with a life-changing event.
People’s daily lives are so jam packed these days, it is a wonder anybody has a moment to even gasp for air. From the moment we awaken in the morning until the moment we close our eyes at night, we’ve got things flying at us–the hour long commute to work, the major deadlines, the skipped lunches to get work in, picking up the kids from soccer practice, making dinner, checking homework, washing clothes, etc. It all adds up and can be a heavy weight on our shoulders as we find less time for the things in life we enjoy. Before we know it, we are bogged down with the stresses of daily life, and barely have a moment to enjoy the lives which lie ahead of us. There are a lot of things people can do in order to help relieve stress in day-to-day life–these include things like getting a better night’s sleep, exercising, having sex, engaging in leisure activities, going to therapy, or in some cases taking medication.
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