How to destress naturally.
Posted By irvinechiro / Date Posted: 2020-07-23
Is the Covid-19 pandemic causing you to feel
stressed?
With such widespread coverage, the 24-7 news cycle, and social media feeds
jammed with coronavirus content, many of our patients are reporting that they
feel overwhelmed, anxious. This is understandable, so it’s important to find
ways to calm stress, naturally.
See, a 2017 study published inComputers in Human
Behavior[1] found
that,“Exposure
to chronic stress can suppress immune function and increase susceptibility to
infection.” That’s not a good combination!
During this pandemic it is important to be informed; to take the right steps
and follow advice. But, listening to conspiracy theories, sensational stories,
and being constantly switched on can do more harm than good. It’s important we
each support our mental wellbeing, especially if we are sensitive to feeling
overwhelmed or already experience mental illness.
We want you to stay safe and healthy and managing stress has a key role to
play. These three simple steps will help you to calm your stress, naturally.
Sensible engagement in news and social media
Our understanding of Covid-19 and the steps we
need to take continues to evolve. This makes itimportantthat we remain up-to-date. But, being
constantly immersed, as we’ve already
discussed, is not helpful.
A study published in theBritish Journal of Psychology[2] looked at what factors, if any, influenced whether
someone’s mood was affected by the news. The authors found that when daily news
was perceived as more negative the viewers felt, well, more negative. The
authors also observed that when negative news is personally relevant, like
Covid-19 is to most of us, the negative affect was stronger.
If you’re feeling stressed, it might be time to cut down the constancy of your
news exposure. Stick with reputable sites for coronavirus advice:Health.gov.au,Australia.gov.au and theWorld Health
Organisation will likely suffice.
Focus
on sufficient sleep
Getting a good night’s sleep is often a challenge at the best of
times, let alone with the added pressures and anxiety this pandemic has placed
on us. How are you coping?Do you sleep well or do you toss and turn, fitful or
worried?
Sleep and the circadian system, our 24-hour body clock, are strong regulators
of immune function.[3] When you slumber
poorly, your ability to fight foreign invaders is decreased. Poor sleep also
elevates stress, which lowers immune function, too. Sufficient sleep is a
simple way to calm stress and enhance immune function.
To
sleep well: Ensure your bedroom is dark and slightly cool, quiet
and safe. Avoid blue light from TV, laptop and smartphone screens for 90
minutes prior to retiring for the night. Establish a routine; go to be and rise
at the same times each day. Choose a comfortable and supportive pillow and
mattress.
Be
physically active
Covid-19 may have temporarily changed the way we live, but we are still able to
be active. Unless infected and unwell, that is. Exercise is wonderful for
elevating mood and, as an added plus, boosting immune function.[4] One study found that
those who engaged in Hatha Yoga were “significantly less anxious, tense,
depressed, angry, fatigued, and confused.”[5] This is great news! Yoga
can be streamed so even if you’re self-isolating there is no reason you can’t
be involved. Walking 45 minutes, five days per week is also ideal.
If you are feeling stressed because of the Covid-19 pandemic, be gentle with
yourself. There have been so many major changes, so quickly. These three steps
will help you to establish much-needed calm, which is crucial to your physical
and psychological wellbeing.
Please, take care of your health. You matter.
[1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563217304405
[2] https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/bjop.12389
[3]https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3256323/
[4]https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2095254618301005
[5]https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02701367.1988.10605493
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