Stress is an inevitable part of life. Things don’t always go our way. Life is full of ups and downs. It is often said that it’s not the event itself, but the way we interpret it that determines how stressed we feel. I agree with that statement up to a point; some people are faced with unreasonable hardships in their life. Others have chronic low grade stress because of a life situation they are trapped in.

Stress can make you feel angry, frustrated, depressed or hopeless, depending upon your personality. Hopelessness is usually the state that has the most negative consequences on health. How many of us use too much alcohol to relax when we know it’s not good for our liver? If we drink too much it only brings temporary relief and the next day we feel irritable or depressed. A similar scenario can occur with food. Many people use eating as a relaxation technique. This may leave you feeling even more anxious or depressed the next day.

The deleterious effects of stress upon your health can accumulate over time. They can seriously wear down your adrenal glands, immune system and gut. In order to achieve truly good health, effective stress management is critical.

Natural ways to feel more relaxed

  • Sit down in a quiet place and concentrate on your breathing – when thoughts come, let them go and concentrate on your breath, taking deep slow breaths. Exhaling for a longer period of time can calm your nervous system. Try inhaling for a count of 4 and exhaling for a count of 6. Do this for a few minutes.
  • Go outside and get some sunshine. This will increase your body’s production of vitamin D, which is good for your immune system and mood. People low in vitamin D are more likely to feel depressed. If there is a lack of sunshine in your part of the world, a vitamin D supplement may be necessary.
  • Write down your thoughts in a journal. If you are feeling upset, this can help to give you some clarity and may help to calm you down. It is also an effective way of reducing the urge to drink, smoke or eat in response to stress.
  • Try not to let negative thoughts snowball. Will the thing that is stressing you out be important in 5 years time or at the end of your life? It will pass, so look to the end and focus on your long term goal. If you have your health you can recover from most setbacks.
  • Glutamine can help to repair the effects of chronic stress upon our gut. If you have gastritis or an inflamed colon, glutamine can work wonders to settle down a churning stomach and bowels. Glutamine can repair a leaky gut and support liver function. Leaky gut means you absorb gut wastes into your bloodstream. This can cause a great deal of fatigue, foggy head and low motivation.
  • Taking a magnesium supplement is essential, as magnesium relaxes the nervous system and the muscles. Magnesium helps to quieten your mind in the evening and helps you to fall asleep.

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.