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Uncommon Symptoms of Stress

Carol — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 12:40:13 +0000

We all know about the more common symptoms of stress. Feeling frazzled and overwhelmed can raise blood pressure, suppress the immune system, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, contribute to infertility, and speed up the aging process. Long-term stress can even rewire the brain, leaving you more vulnerable to anxiety and depression.

Obviously none of these are good. But stress can also cause some not so common symptoms. Watch for these unusual signs that you may be under too much stress.

A Sore and Achy Jaw
A sore jaw can be a sign of teeth grinding or clenching which many people do subconsciously when they are under stress. Visit your dentist. Many times they can see signs of wearing of the back teeth from grinding. Ask your dentist about a mouth guard to wear at night. Up to 70% of people who use one say it helped reduce or stop their grinding.

Weekend Headaches
You may be stressed during the week, and then relax on the weekends. A sudden drop in stress can bring on migraines. To minimize these headaches, stick closely to your usual weekday sleeping and eating schedule.

Menstrual Cramps
More stressful women tend to get more painful cramps than those that are less stressed. Stress can upset the balance of hormones. Severe stress can even alter your cycles, causing irregular periods. Exercise is good medicine to soothe cramps and relieve stress.

Bizarre dreams
Most of the time, dreams get progressively more positive as you sleep so we wake up happier than before you went to bed, says psychologists. But when stressed, you wake up more often, disrupting this process and allowing odd dreams. Try to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night, and avoid stimulants like coffee, alcohol, chocolate, and other caffeine before bed.

Reducing Stress at the Doctor’s Office

Carol — Tue, 04 May 2010 13:14:24 +0000

Whether going for a routine health checkup or a visit to the dentist, going to the doctor is near the bottom of many people’s list of desired activities. Nurses pass along these tips for feeling less on edge:

Leave early for an appointment. If you rush out the door and are running late, you’ll get to the office already stressed out.
But expect to wait. Doctors try to run on time, but the reality is they often don’t. Bring something relaxing to do in the waiting room, such as a favorite book or magazine, a book of puzzles, a knitting project or an iPod.
Avoid caffeine. Stop drinking soda, coffee and other caffeinated products at least an hour before your appointment. Caffeine can cause extra jitters and also raise your blood pressure.
Bring company. Ask a family member or friend to come to your appointment. You’ll have a nice distraction in the waiting room and, if you want, an extra set of ears when your doctor gives you advice.
Communicate your fears. Tell your doctor up front if you are nervous and let her know what part of the appointment scares you the most.
Stay in the loop. Have your doctor explain what’s going on at different stages of the visit to avoid surprises.
Use visualization. During shots and blood draws, close your eyes and picture yourself in a favorite place (looking away from needles also can help reduce pain). Relax your muscles as much as possible and breathe slowly and deeply.
Try not to be embarrassed. While you may feel uncomfortable with being naked or discussing sensitive health topics, your doctor likely has seen and heard it all before — often many times a day.

Spend One Day a Month in Solitude

Carol — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 12:38:08 +0000

If you already have a good amount of alone time, or if you’ve changed and simplified your life enough to reduce the chaos and pressure in your life, you may be getting all the alone time you need.

But if your days are filled with coworkers, family, friends, traffic, noise, demands, requests, pressure, schedules, and deadlines, you may want to consider spending a day or two each month by yourself. And this means completely away from your routine everyday distractions that complicate your life.

Spending a quiet day alone doesn’t have to cost money. You could take a hike in the mountains, or spend a day at the park or beach. Visit a local museum or gallery, or spend the day in the peaceful setting of your local library. Get away from the people who make demands on your time, even for just a day.

Having a day alone gets us back in touch with what is real, and what means the most in our lives. It gives us time to slow down and think. Freeing ourselves from the pressures of life is what simplifying our lives is all about.

Be sure to tell your spouse or partner why you’re doing this…for your mental health…and not to just get away and exclude them.

Stay Healthy by Stop Worrying

Carol — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 14:08:55 +0000

I will start this post with a question, the same question my Mother would always asks me, “Will your worrying help anything?”

I believe that the answer to that question is no! It boils down to this–if we have the power to change anything, then we need to work towards a solution. Why complain and worry when we have the power?

But what if it is out of our control, then all the worry in the world won’t fix or resolve it!

Remember the first paragraph of the Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr:

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
the courage to change the things I can;
and the wisdom to know the difference.

Think about the things that we worry about on a daily basis. In these difficult times, we worry about our finances, our children, our job security, the list goes on. We don’t consider that all the worry is adding stress that affects our health and quality of life. That is what all the doctors are telling us, and you hear about it on the news everyday, but we are still worrying about things we can’t change.

There are many studies and experts that tells us that worrying and the stress that comes with it, is keeping us ill both physically and mentally. I went to the Mayo Clinic website and found much information on keeping ourselves positive and healthy with suggestions on how to live a less stressful life. Most are common sense, many we already know, we just need to implement these suggestions into our everyday lives.

Depend on family and friends as a strong support system to get you through difficult times. Stress is a part of our everyday lives, it is how we deal with that stress that determines the outcome. Having a positive attitude plays a large roll in how we deal with life’s ups and downs. Take a walk with a good friend, enjoy the beauty around you. Take a yoga or pilates class; take up a new hobby that interests you; read a good book; laugh as you enjoy a funny movie; make a spiritual connection; learn to meditate; learn to forgive; become accepting of others; turn off the news; listen to quiet music; and know that a simple smile goes a long way for you as well as the one you offer it to.

I am not saying that it is easy, but we need to remember that life is short and there is so much to enjoy and be grateful for. We all have our crosses to bear and there will always be peaks and valleys–let’s learn how to navigate them. Visit the Mayo Clinic website for a wealth of information on dealing with stress in our lives.

“Do not anticipate trouble or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight.” by Benjamin Franklin.

“Give your stress wings and let it fly away.” by Carin Hartness.

Music: A Great Stress Release

Carol — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:06:32 +0000

I can’t remember a time that I was not in love with music. I think that music can be therapy for what ails you. Music will pump me up when I need a little energy to get those toilets cleaned or the floors scrubbed. Music makes exercising more fun and motivates me–I usually sing and dance my way through all my daily chores.

Don’t be afraid to experiment with new music. I am a big country music girl, but you will find me enjoying a little Gwen Stefani, Pussycat Dolls, or Justin Timberlake– they will keep you moving. Turn off the TV, turn on the music and find your inner singer and dancer.

When it is late and I am tired with all of the day’s chores behind me, quiet, relaxing music is what I need. I highly recommend Josh Groban–a perfect voice for the end to your long day. Enjoy!!