Stress Management

Dear Friends:
With demanding jobs, family responsibilities, and now tax season, many of my patients have been asking how to unwind and de-stress.

Learning how to manage your stress is critical to your health. Over the long term, stress can wear out your organs, increase susceptibility to heart disease and weaken your immune system, leaving you vulnerable to viruses and infections. Here are my tips for reducing your stress and achieving greater balance in your life.

Be Aware of Your Stress
Stress is the sum of physical and emotional reactions to any stimuli that disturbs your natural state of well-being. This stimuli can include happy events, such as planning a wedding, or less-than-happy occasions, such as losing a job. Whatever the cause of your stress, be aware of your physical reactions to the stimuli. An increased heart rate, shallow breathing, tense muscles and a constricted abdominal cavity are all signs that you are experiencing stress.

Breathe
Your body needs oxygen to function properly. Yet during times of stress, your breath shortens, decreasing the supply of oxygen to your brain, heart and other vital organs. If you start to feel stress, take deep, slow breaths. Place your hand on your stomach, and feel the rise and fall of the abdominal area to ensure proper breathing in your diaphragm.

Change Your Eating Habits
When faced with stress, many people revert to unhealthy eating habits. Stay away from high-fat and high-salt foods, as well as alcohol and tobacco. During stressful times, increase your protein intake for sustained energy, and always have water available to keep you properly hydrated.

Get Consistent Exercise
Physical activity burns off stress. Exercise not only helps your cardiovascular system, but it also encourages you to breathe more deeply, bringing more oxygen to your body. Consider practicing yoga or tai chi, two Eastern forms of exercise, to help stretch the muscles and center the mind and body.

Get Plenty of Rest
Make sure to get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep every night. You need the rest to re-charge, especially before big events like a holiday. Sleep allows you to function efficiently, and complete daily tasks without "burning out."

Try to Understand YOU
Work with a coach or therapist to solve time management issues, learn how to draw boundaries or understand emotional blocks. Through biofeedback techniques, I can teach you how manage your stress, and minimize the damage you place on your body.

Replenish and Restore
"Bio-energy" is a term used to describe the energy that flows along your body's meridians, controlling the central nervous system and key organs. If this flow becomes blocked or "short-circuited" because of stress, health problems will result. Acupuncture and acupressure restore and replenish the flow of bio-energy, alleviating symptoms, promoting good health and helping you to relax.

Learning to control stress doesn't happen overnight. The process is lifelong, but one that will lead to improved well-being, increased happiness and a greater chance for overall success. For more information about stress reduction, contact Dr. Wonson's office at 415/544-9104, or send us an e-mail at drwonson@drwonson.com.