Stress - What can be done?

Stress. We all have it to some degree. In fact did you know that a degree of stress is actually good for us? It motivates us and serves to get us out of bed in the morning!

So, what is stress? Well, put simply its a body and mind reaction to an overload. Stress follows 3 phases; calm, eustress and distress.

Eustress sees us working optimally, causing us to feel challenged, energised and focused. If we remained in the calm phase indefinitely we would simply be bored, as for distress - do I need to say more? Distress leads to fatigue, exhaustion and ultimately can leave a sufferer facing burnout.

So, what are the symptoms of Stress?

Well, that's difficult to answer, given how wide ranging the symptoms are. Stress doesn't just manifest in one or two ways, rather it exerts its control over us in ways that we would never imagine. the 4 groups which symptoms can be fitted in to are;

Psychological signs; an inability to concentrate, lack of motivation, OCD behaviours, brain fog, tunnel vision and memory lapses to name but a few.

Physical signs; aches and pains, constipation, diarrhoea, IBS, sweating, fatigue, acid reflux, palpitations, dizziness, panic attacks, nausea and so many more.

Behavioural signs; forgetful, insomnia, aggression, obsession, loss of libido, avoidance, social withdrawal, compulsive, etc.

Emotional signs; tearful, irritable, defensive, cynicism, low confidence and self esteem, frustration, mood swings.

So, as you can see, stress can really start to take over if we allow it to.

How can Reflexology help?

For anyone who is stressed relaxation is particularly important. Through relaxation the body is allowed respite from the aggravating stressors and can start to regain its equilibrium. Also the nature of being stressed means that often we do not take time for ourselves, perceiving that time spent on ourselves is ‘wasted’ time. In practice this couldn’t be further from the truth, as these periods of self-care promote a feeling of well-being and can help ease the pressures we feel, enabling us to cope with them more effectively.

Touch as a sensation is registered by the skin, which is not only the largest organ of the body, it is also the most sensitive. As a result the skin is able to receive and register a vast amount of varied signals. Touch is a very effective way of healing and helps us overcome the stresses and strains of everyday life. Reflexology is an excellent way of getting back in touch with your body and is considered by many to be one of the most effective ways of treating holistically (a treatment which works on the body as a whole). Through its stimulation of the parasympathetic nervous system it can also help to restore balance to the body. Most people find touch pleasurable. It is the first sense to become functional in the embryo, and a caring touch can leave us feeling that we are cared for, wanted and loved. It’s not difficult to see why reflexology is so beneficial to us, and why we feel so much more relaxed after a treatment.