Want to know how to effectively deal with the stress in your life?
The pace of modern life, pressures in the workplace and all the demands of life in a continually changing world, make this an age of “stress”.
What can we do to help ourselves to stay centered and balanced in the rapid change that is around us?
You may be suffering from the effects of prolonged stress. Do you feel exhausted, depleted or experience digestive problems? Do you feel restless, nervous, frustrated or exhausted? Other effects from stress can be headaches, insomnia, acne or eczema, or repeated infections.
The body can usually adjust to a stressor, however if the stress becomes prolonged the body will try to adapt to the stress and will be in a fight or flight mode and excess cortisol will begin circulating in the body. Over time, high levels of cortisol deplete the adrenal glands and predispose you to chronic fatigue.
Excess cortisol raises your blood sugar and put you at risk of diabetes. You may begin to gain weight around your abdomen even when you eat well and exercise. Stress can impair the functioning of the immune system and you may become more susceptible to colds and infections
What is Stress?
Stress, now considered a normal part of life, can be a positive experience creating excitement, increased energy, clarity of thought and creativity.
When we think of stress it is generally thought of as being a term used to describe negative emotions or feelings of anxiety or tension in situations that are overwhelming and difficult to deal with. When we are placed under demands and pressure it depends on how we view these demands as to how they will manifest in the body. Whether we think we can cope or if we feel helpless will determine the level of stress experienced.
Effects of Chronic Stress
Physical – muscle tension, back ache, headaches, exhaustion, ulcers, heart attacks and more
Psychological – Depression, anxiety, panic.
Behavioral – Poor concentration, lethargy, self abuse, aggression.
Emotional – lack of confidence, fear, frustration, loss of interest, hysteria
Stress affects the body, lowers the immune system, slows body function and can lead to serious physical, mental or emotional imbalances. Stress affects performance in the workplace, effectiveness as a parent and also affects relationships.
How Aromatherapy can help?
Have you ever inhaled the fresh smell of orange blossom and felt immediately relaxed? Aromatherapy is a holistic therapy using essential oils that have been extracted from plants to balance the body, mind and spirit. Utilizing essential oils can balance the emotions and uplift the spirits. As you inhale the oils they go directly to the limbic system in your brain where they trigger thoughts feelings memories and emotions. This direct link to the limbic and autonomic system helps with stress management as this area of the brain ( hypothalamus) is the major control center of the autonomic nervous system. It controls the sympathetic division which activate the “fight or flight” adrenalin production.
6 Aromatic Ways You Can Reduce Stress
Aromatherapy address all aspects of the human being, body, mind and spirit.
- Diffuse citrus oils such as bergamot, mandarin and lemon in an ultrasonic diffuser at your work station to uplift your spirits
- An aromatherapy massage with rose, vetiver and mandarin orange a wonderful way of helping to support your mental and spiritual health. Aromatherapy massage induces the relaxation response and thus boosts immunity. It has been proven that stress lowers white blood cells and that the relaxation response increases immunity.
- Keep a pocket blend of jasmine, sandalwood and cedarwood in your purse to elevate your spirits during the day.
- If you’d like to experience a more peaceful sleep take an aromatic bath at night with roman chamomile, valerian root and lavender
- Create ritual in your life and create a healing space in a room or area of your home. Light an aromatherapy candle and meditate upon rising, inhaling a blend of frankincense, myrrh and cedarwood.
- Visit a Clinical Aromatherapist who can create an individualized blend specific to your needs