You can encounter physical, emotional or mental stress. To deal with all the stress that happens to you shouldn’t you be armed with the very best tools possible in order to deal with all the stress?

You can manage stress by gathering together some not so hard to learn, “learnable skills”. We are after all designed to handle stress. Our bodies react to stressful situations in a physical way without us having to tell them what to do. At the first indication of a possible physical threat your adrenaline starts flowing and your heart begins to beat faster so that blood can get to your legs giving them the ability to run fast and get you out of harms way.

Back in ancient times physical danger was the most common form of stress. In our modern world the most common form of stress is the psychological kind. The kind that is generated by a global highly technical world that requires that we keep up with the fast pace of the world. You can learn the tools needed to navigate this global highly technical world.

One tool that you have to use is that of learning how to relax. Relaxation allows you to stem the urge to panic. When we panic all cognitive skills “go out the window” and we make mistakes dealing with the problem that caused the stress. We want to be able to think smart so that we can avoid danger. There are several relaxation techniques that are easy to learn. One is to just deep breath.

Deep breathing not only relaxes your muscles, it delivers much needed oxygen to your brain and other body organs. Take deep breaths through your nose and slowly blow the air out of your mouth. Breath as deeply as you can. Repeat 10 times. You should feel more relaxed by the time you finish. Visualization is a great technique for learning how to relax.

You use imagery when you use the visualization technique of relaxation. You paint a peaceful scene in your mind. You can paint the same scene or envision a different one each time. Note the details of your peaceful scene; imagine peaceful sounds, sights and feelings. Make use of all your senses to paint the picture in your mind. Before you know it, your body will start to relax.

Another tool you can use to manage stress is to change the wording about what is stressing you out. When you think about or talk about what is causing the stress instead of using words like anxious, worried or fearful you feel towards a situation or event that is stressing you out; change the wording into concern. You are concerned about…. instead of being anxious, worried or fearful about it.

You may be surprised how much the brain is connected to your emotions. If you practice using words that give you power or control over a situation and minimizes feeling out of control; that you will start to feel that way too. Being anxious, worried or fearful about something gives you the sense of not having any control over it. If you instead say that you are concerned about it, the emotions are not as high and you present a more controlled attitude about it.

We Recommend:

PureCalm is a natural, safe and effective liquid herbal formula that works quickly to eliminate symptoms of anxiety, stress, panic attacks and irritability.  Created by a clinical psychologist, this remedy is pharmaceutically manufactured to the highest standards, combining the soothing properties of Lemon Balm with those of Lavender and Passion Flower, to bring you relief within minutes! For those who suffer from chronic anxiety and severe panic attacks, combine this remedy with MindSoothe for effective long-term reduction of your symptoms.

Some stress is necessary for optimal functioning. It�s what enables us to give interesting presentations, makes sporting events fun to watch, serves as a protection in dangerous situations, and motivation and energy in challenging ones. People perceive demands differently and what can be motivating for one may be distressing to another.

When the body faces a stressful event, your central nervous system gets ready for action. Certain areas of your brain activate hormones which in turn activate adrenalin. All of this happens within a matter of seconds � you know it�s kicked in when you feel your heart beating faster and your face flush. In the meantime, seventeen other hormones are being released, sending the body into a hyperactive state.

Sugars stored in the liver are released providing quick energy. Your red blood cells release more oxygen, your stomach goes into hibernation allowing more blood to reach your brain and muscles in preparation for flight. Your intestines are affected � either constricting or � yikes, relaxing! If allowed, your body will finally relax after the threat passes.

The problems lie when we are in a chronic state of arousal whether through repeated acute episodes of stress or prolonged chronic states such as through poverty, unemployment, grief and other long term situations.

In episodic acute and chronic stress, your body hasn�t had a chance to turn off the switch and recent research has confirmed negative health effects ranging from cardiac damage, increased susceptibility to viruses, increased headaches, insomnia, GERD, skin problems, stroke and other health issues.

How Do You Respond to Stress?

When experiencing stress, you may be affected totally, not only in your body but also in your emotional reactions, your personal thoughts, and your relations with others.

The following list of stress symptoms contains the most typical reactions to stress. It can also help you begin focusing on ways to manage stress.

Physical

Headaches, Fatigue, Insomnia, Weight change, Colds, Digestive upsets, Accident prone, Teeth grinding, Restlessness, Alcohol, drug, or tobacco use, Shoulders tighten up or ache, Pounding heart rate.

Mental

Forgetfulness, Dull senses, Poor concentration, Low productivity, Negative attitude, Confusion, Lethargy, No new ideas, Boredom.

Emotional

Anxiety, The “blues”, Mood swings, Bad temper, Crying spells, Irritability, Depression, Nervous laugh, Worrying, Easily discouraged.

Social

Isolation, Resentment, Loneliness, Lashing out, Clamming up, Lowered sex drive, Nagging, Fewer contacts with friends.

Look over the symptoms you’ve experienced and circle those that occur frequently or regularly.

Study your list. Which symptoms cause you the most concern? Are you aware when they are happening to you? Can you stop them from happening? Do you see a pattern in your symptoms? Are they mostly physical? Do they usually involve other people? This might give you a clue in directing your stress management program.

About the author

Cathy Gariety is a Registered Nurse and CEO of Gariety Group Consulting – a firm specializing in stress management providing services to individuals, corporate and healthcare facilities. She is also Editor of their Stress Buster newsletter. Email stresscoach@getresponse.com for a complimentary Mini Stress Management E-Course delivered to your email address once per week for four weeks.

Healing is a journey from illenss to wellness. Helaing is rebalancing and renewing. Healing is transformational and multidimensional.

The multidimensionality of healing is also known as holistic. Holsitic healing recognizes that restoring well being includes more than treating phsyical disease. When there is physical illness, other dimensions of self and life also are impacted, inclduing mood, thinking, activity, and soul.

As a preistess, psychotherapist, and counselor, I serve as both a catalyst and a guide in doing healing wiork with others. Drawing from my background in Wiccan spirituality and Paganism, and my Psychology studies and practive over the past thirty-five years, I have developed a holistic framework that I call the Pentacle of Healing. The Pentacle is a five-pointed interlaced Pentagram within a Circle. Each of the five points of the Pentagram represetns a dimension of healing, and the Circle represents the harmonious integration and functioning of these dimensions.

I use the Pentacle of Helaing framework for assessment as well as for considering treatment options. I share here some of the questions to ask in working with each healing dimension. I also include several examples of healing modalities that might be used in treating problems in each.

Physical:

The Physical dimension of Healing, associated with the Element of Earth, pertains to both the physical body and the physical environment. How well does your physical body function? How clean is it? How balanced and aligned is your posture? What foods, beverages, medicines, and other things do you consume? What lotions, soaps, fragrances, and other substances do you put on or around your body? How clean and confortable are the clothes that you wear? What toxins are you exposed to at home, in your neighborhood, at work, and other places you frequent? How strong is your immune system? Physical healing modalities inlcude improving nutrition, taking medicines, getting vaccinations, internal and external cleansing of the mody, massage, decluttering living and working spaces, and reducing or eliminating exposure to toxins.

Mental:

The Mental dimension of Healing, associated with the element of Air, pertains to the mind and cognition. How well is your mind functioning? How good is your memory? How well do you listen, focus attention, and absorb information? How healthy is your self-talk? What do take into your mind? What studies are you engaged in? What kinds of things do you read and view in print, online, and in the mass media? What do you talk about to others? Mental healing modalities include journaling, cousneling, repeating affirmations, reading thought-provoking works, sloving and engaging in other types of mental exercises, and education.

Behavioral:

The Behavioral dimension of Healing, associated with the element of Fire, pertains to actions and lifestyle. How healthy is your lifestyle? What habits are enhancing your well being? What haboits are destructive? How well do you manage stress? What is your balance between work and play? How much time do you spend with others and how much do you spend alone? What is the quality of time you have for yourself? What quanitity and quality of sleep do you get each night? Behavioral healing modalities include walking, stretching, dancing, swimming, other types of exercise, time management, creative _expression, travel, hobbies, career development, volunteer service, and stress management exercises.

Emotional:

The Emotional dimension of Healing, associated with the Element of Water, pertains to feelings and relationships. How emotionally fit and mature are you? How healthy are your relationships with others? How happy are you? Whjat upsets you? How do you process anger and frustration? How do you deal with sadness and loss? What do you fear? How honest are you with others? What do you trust, feel close to, and call on in times of need? Who calls on you? What are doing to improve you emotional and social well being? Emotional healing modalities include gestalt therapy, rational-emotive therapy, music therapy, art therapy, laugh therapy, other expressive forms of psychotherapy, peer counseling, emotive journaling, and support groups.

Spiritual:

The Spiritual dimension of Healing, assoicated with the Element of Spirit, pertains to the soul and sacred forces. How healthy is your spiritual life? What is religion, spirituality, or philosophy and how does it help you? What form(s) of the Divine do you honor and connect with? What type of spiritual practices do you engage in and how often? What affiliations fo you have with the spiritual communities, groups and paths? What places are sacred to you and how often do you visit? How do you work with intuition and spiritual guidance in your life? In what ways are you developing spiritually? Spiitual healing modalities inlcude meditaiton, ritual, prayer, altar work, sacred site pilgrimages, spiritual studies, vision questions, divination, dream exploration, and spiritual healing work.

The Circle that surrounds and connects the five points of the Pentagram in this model signifies an integrative approach to hesaling and wellness. It is important that approaches selected for various dimesntions of healing, as well as healer and health care professionals guiding those approaches, work in harmony with the one needing healing, in order to restor ebalance to each dimenstion as well as the whole.

http://www.circlesanctuary.org/index.html

There are also certain categories of individuals more prone to extreme stress such as health care workers, firemen, police officers, those living on the east or west coasts, low-income individuals, those of middle age, those who remain single throughout their life, and women and others who are considered of a minority in most populations.

Extreme stress is when a situation or event personally effects someone we care deeply about or when these things happen to us. The stress can be crushing, crippling and difficult to live with. Examples of situations where extreme stress exists would be catastrophic crises such as those from weather or war in which large populations are wiped out. Extreme stress affects the individual’s ability to survive or the ability of a loved one to survive.

The symptoms of extreme stress varies from those of normal stress in that when a person experiences normal stress they may encounter the typical stress responses such as the increase in adrenaline that spur our heart to beat faster to rush blood from our skin to vital organs and to our legs if flight is required.

The individual may notice tensed muscles, rapid breathing, and a feeling of being anxious. An individual experiencing extreme stress feels like his/her heart will burst through the chest, they may gasp for air as if there is no oxygen in the room and either overreact to the situation or event or they may become frozen and unable to react, or move.

There is also an emotional response when an individual is experiencing extreme stress such as being totally terrified, and feeling very panicky about the event or situation. They may say or think that they are doomed to die or that they feel that the situation is hopeless.

Cognitively the individual experiencing extreme stress will be in a confused state, and could even totally mentally shut down. They will have difficulty recalling events, or details. They may react as if they are on autopilot or totally freeze up and not be able to function at all.

While experiencing extreme stress the individual may take risks that may be dangerous or seem foolish to others. They will experience a never-ending survival existence in which they feel they have no hope of escaping from.

Individuals who have experienced extreme stress must learn to manage stress first in the immediate time period and then over-time as they heal. A good example of this is the victims and the families of those who were attacked on September 11th. There were immediate needs that had to be addressed for those injured and those learning of those who had perished and then as time passed stress management took on other means of coping such as erecting memorials, holding remembrance ceremonies treating physical, mental and emotional wounds. Support groups are often very helpful tools for anyone suffering from extreme stress.

Serotonin also promotes healthy concentration, a positive mental attitude, memory and mental alertness. Other neurotransmitters such as dopamine, as well as certain hormones like cortisol are also involved in maintaining balanced mood and feelings of confidence and well-being.

While your feelings are not all about brain chemicals, the delicate balance between neurotransmitters and other hormones can play a big part in maintaining emotional stability, wellness and a positive outlook. Lifestyle, stress management and maintaining healthy relationships all contribute to happiness.

However, when there are challenges to face, a solid foundation of emotional health, balanced brain chemistry and a healthy self esteem will make all the difference to how we are able to cope or have the emotional strength to make changes necessary to improve our lives.

A lot can be done to naturally maintain emotional health and a healthy positive mental attitude.

It is a good idea to keep your natural feel-good chemicals flowing by eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grain foods, ensuring plenty of fresh air, adequate sleep, moderate sunshine and regular exercise. Many healthy foods (e.g. bananas, turkey and carbohydrates) contain nutritional precursors of serotonin and this makes them natural ‘mood foods’ to maintain healthy serotonin levels!

Also, never underestimate the power of a few stolen minutes during the workday (or school day) to rejuvenate the spirit and relax the mind – meditation, yoga or listening to a calming CD can all promote relaxation. Smoking, recreational drugs and alcohol can all depress the nervous system and affect the balance of neurotransmitters like serotonin – so try to cut back or avoid these habits for the sake of your emotional as well as your physical health.

Natural remedies have been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years to gently and safely support the healthy functioning of the brain and nervous system, as well as to maintain normal and efficient balance of emotion.

In more recent times, research has confirmed this traditional wisdom. There are now many published clinical studies demonstrating the ability of a range of herbs to support the normal functioning of the brain and nervous system and maintain balanced mood and a positive mental attitude, feelings of well-being, and support emotional wellness. (Kalb R, Trautmann-Sponsel RD, Kieser M. “Efficacy and tolerability of hypericum extract WS 5572 versus placebo in mildly to moderately depressed patients. A randomized double-blind multicenter clinical trial”.

Psychiatrische Klinik der Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany. Pharmacopsychiatry. 2001 May;34(3):96-103).

What is MindSoothe?

MindSoothe is a 100% safe, non-addictive, natural herbal remedy that has been especially formulated by a Clinical Psychologist for adults and teens, and comes in a compact capsule form, making it easy to take.

MindSoothe can be used to safely maintain emotional health, balanced mood and systemic harmony in the brain and nervous system, without harmful side effects. This remedy contains a selection of herbs known for their excellent and supportive function in maintaining brain and nervous system health, emotional balance and overall emotional well-being.

While the herbal ingredients in MindSoothe have been used for thousands of years in traditional folk medicine, more recently extensive research has supported the therapeutic and tonic benefits, as well as the safety profile of these herbs – meaning that you can use MindSoothe with confidence and without fear of side effects.

The formula remains true to the whole spectrum method of manufacture, ensuring the bio-availability and balance of all the active ingredients contained in the remedy. This method of manufacture also significantly reduces the likelihood of side effects and maintains all active ingredients in perfect balance – exactly as nature intended!

In combination with a healthy lifestyle and diet, MindSoothe supports the healthy functioning of the brain and nervous system, thereby helping to support emotional wellness and maintaining balanced mood, a positive mental attitude, and routine equilibrium.

As a bonus, regular use of MindSoothe also helps to maintain healthy sleep patterns, a balanced appetite and support a healthy sex drive. MindSoothe can be used consistently, without compromising health.

How has MindSoothe helped others?

If you ask twenty people what causes them the most stress, you are likely to hear twenty different answers. That is because stress is not the same for every person. Everyone is affected by it quite differently. What causes stress for one person, may not faze another. However, there are common threads in the top things that cause stress. Here are a few things that are likely to cause feelings of stress.

Money: They old saying goes that money is the root of all evil and when you think about the number of times you have thought or worried about money, then you can probably agree with that statement. Money is the reason you get up every day and head to work. It is what keeps you up late at night paying the bills. It is important and stressful. It makes sense then that money is one of the top stressors in many lives. You never seem to have enough to go around and it can cause spouses and family members to argue and worry.

In this day and age, with the soaring prices of gas, groceries and the mounting debt you may carry, it is no wonder that money is a huge stress factor. If you find you are worried about money, think of things you can actively do to reduce your worries and put yourself in a solid financial situation.

Children: Children are wonderful and they add joy and excitement to your life. However, children can cause you lots of stress, too. From the day they are born and come home from the hospital, you worry and stress over them. Is your baby eating enough, sleeping enough, getting the right amount of stimulation?

It doesn’t stop when they are babies either factor in potty training, separation anxiety, school, homework, driving, dating, college tuition and you can quickly see that your bundle of joy has brought stress aplenty into your home. You will certainly lose a lot of sleep over your children, even after they have grown up and moved out of the house.

Medical problems: Another one of the top things that cause stress in the lives of many people is medical problems. Even small medical problems and illnesses can cause people to worry and fret. If you are unlucky enough to face major medical issues, then the stress rises even more. You may wonder if you will get better, how you will support your family, if you can work and even if you have enough health insurance to pay the bills. Medical problems are huge stress factors for many people.

Stress happens and when you know what is causing your stress, you can work to alleviate these problems before it gets out of hand, as well as choose a holistic approach which incorporates a natural remedy for stress.

Editor’s Note: Sometimes a natural remedy for stress can help us cope with the top things that cause stress. PureCalm, a natural remedy for stress, has been tested by our editors and found to be a very effective natural remedy for stress. Our editors found that this natural remedy for stress calmed nerves, soothed mood and helped them to achieve a more relaxed and even-keeled response to normal stressors of the day. As an added benefit, the natural stress remedy, PureCalm, also helped our editors fall asleep more easily and stay asleep – which greatly helped their overall mood and stress levels.

This natural remedy for stress is manufactured by Native Remedies. We thoroughly researched this company that makes this natural stress remedy and have found that all of their products are created using their Full Spectrum Approach (FSA), a set of standards and processes that combines the best quality, laboratory-tested, raw ingredients, good manufacturing practices and a Full Spectrum manufacturing method to guarantee you products of the highest quality, safety and effectiveness.

All Native Remedies‘ formulas, including their PureCalm stress natural remedy, contain no animal products, gluten, artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, are not tested on animals, and backed by our One Year Unconditional Money Back Guarantee. Plus, individual homeopathic ingredients are listed in the Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia of the United States (HPUS).

Also, they only use WHOLE HERB herbal extracts, the purest form of the herb with the highest quality and therapeutic benefits.

By doing physical exercise the body will inevitably get fitter and stronger. A fit person is less likely to get sick and tired especially during stressful periods. As a person becomes fitter, their self esteem and self worth will naturally increase. This also reduces the likely hood of succumbing to stress and in fact will typically have a better chance of coping with stressful situations.

Competitive forms of exercise can also help reduce stress. Normally, competitive sport will require participants to regularly train, set goals and work in a team. They are also required to learn how to cope with stressful moments during a game as well deal with both victory and defeat. Such activities emulate real life situations and therefore will help you to deal with the challenges that life may bring you.

Some physical exercises which involve repetitive movement, such as running or riding a bike, can have a meditative effect bringing on change in your the state of consciousness. Like any other form of meditation, the result is usually an increase in mental alertness and feeling calm yet more alive.

On an etheric level, it is believed that physical exercise has a cleansing affect on the energy body. All the dirty energy that contributes to stress is automatically expelled during physical activity. The energy body will naturally replace this with fresh energy freely available in the air and the earth.

The BEST Workout We’ve Found

I know, you’ve seen it on TV and heard all the hype, but honestly, the Total Gym is hands down the best piece of workout equipment that we at NHH have ever found. All of our editors use this in their own homes. Why?

1) It’s quick – You can get a full body workout in only 10-20 minutes a day.
2) We have room for it in our homes – it folds to about the size of an ironing board and slides under a bed or couch easily!
3) It has everything you need – stretching, pilates, cardio training, resistance training – on only one machine!
4) It’s also for muscle building, not just weight loss and general fitness – simply set a higher incline to build and sculpt muscles!
5) No hassle – it comes FULLY ASSEMBLED! and…
6) There’s no risk – you can try it risk free for 30 days for only $1!

I’ve personally purchased dozens of exercise machines – whatever’s being advertised, I fall for it. The Total Gym is the ONLY one I’ve stuck with – and I have to say that I LOVE it! So worth the cost – and with their payment plans, a single mom like me was able to afford it.

Learn more about the Total Gym today – then come back here and share your story with us! We’d love to hear from you.

About the author

David Tomaselli is the creator of the Wholistic Development Exchange. The Wholistic Development Exchange is a web site focusing on Stress Management. Here you can access frequently updated tips, news and resources on how to reduce stress and manage stress.

What is IBS?

The most challenging aspect of IBS is that it can’t be definitively diagnosed using a biological or chemical test. Rather, it is a collection of varying symptoms. The primary symptoms are abdominal pain and bowel dysfunction, including gas, diarrhea or constipation, discomfort, bloating, and nausea. Most doctors diagnose IBS by ruling out other diseases and confirming symptoms. Diet, infection, and psychological stressors seem to underlie these symptoms for most patients with IBS.

What causes IBS?

Equally mysterious are the origins of IBS. Some research suggests that with IBS, the contractions of the colon that move food and waste through the intestines are abnormal, ranging from spasmodic to completely stopped. In the simplest sense, these abnormal contractions cause diarrhea and/or constipation, as well as poor digestion and malnutrition. Further, they can indirectly lead to bacterial imbalance, compromised immunity, poor metabolism, and changes in mood and hormonal activity.

Physical and mental stresses also are contributing factors, affecting contractions in the colon as well as the absorption of liquids and nutrients. People who have been exposed to psychological, physical, and/or sexual trauma in childhood appear to be at higher risk of developing IBS. Approximately 20 percent of individuals may get IBS as the result of a parasite, infection, or other inflammation of the intestine.

For those affected, the medical solutions can be disheartening. Few prescription drugs exist, and what is available can have serious side effects. For example, alosetron hydrochloride (Lotronex), a prescription medication that has been prescribed to women with IBS, can cause severe constipation and reduced blood flow to the colon. These effects have been associated with ischemic colitis, a critical condition of inflammation, irritation, and swelling of the large intestine.

Commonly used over-the-counter treatments have drawbacks as well. For example, one big mistake people with IBS make is taking too many antacids. Pain in the stomach and intestines doesn’t necessarily equate to too much acid. In fact, the opposite is often true.

A condition called hypochlorhydria, marked by insufficient levels of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, can cause maldigestion and symptoms of IBS. Additionally, many patients with heartburn take antacids and other medicines, which further decrease acid production and compromise the immune system. In a recent study, users of acid-suppressing medicines doubled their risk of pneumonia.

With acid suppression and chronic antibiotic usage, it’s possible for unhealthy bacteria to proliferate in the small intestine and result in a state known as small bowel bacteria overgrowth (SBBO) or dysbiosis. These problems of imbalanced bacteria can lead to decreased absorption of important nutrients and vitamins. SBBO must be remedied with antibiotics or anti-microbial herbs.

Beyond what’s found at the pharmacy, certain behaviors will usually worsen IBS, including eating large meals; taking big doses of medications; and consuming wheat, milk products, chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol. Stressors, both physical and mental, also are common aggravators.

A properly functioning digestive system is a finely tuned physiological machine that runs the tasks of digestion and nutrient absorption, immune regulation, metabolism, and certain hormonal balances. Untreated, IBS can have profound negative effects on the whole body.

Nearly 70 percent of the immune system is located in the digestive tract. At birth, the intestines are sterile, but within two years, they become home to more than 100 trillion bacteria. These bacteria play a crucial role in the maintenance of the immune system, fending off pathogens and keeping the gut in balance. IBS can throw off the bacterial balance in the intestines, compromise the immune system, and affect overall health and wellness.

Digestion – breaking down food, absorbing nutrients, and expelling waste – is also compromised with IBS. When the intestines don’t digest properly, it’s hard to get sufficient nutrients, and a state of slow malnourishment is created. Sometimes, a leaky gut can result, causing undigested food to escape the small intestine, enter the blood stream, and cause allergy, inflammation, and stress in the liver.

What you can do now

Unfortunately, there’s no cure for IBS, no magic pill or prescription. But there are several things that you can do to start feeling better right away. Following are some of the best ways to help minimize flare-ups and keep your intestines as healthy as possible.

* Chew. It sounds obvious, but proper chewing is the first step toward good digestion. Gobbling down chunks of food is hard enough on healthy stomach and intestines, but it’s even harder if you have IBS. Digestion starts in the mouth, so take your time and chew completely before swallowing. Each part of the digestive tract needs time to do its work without being overwhelmed. Also, avoid overeating. Eating too much food puts tremendous physical stress on the digestive system.

* Eat right. Eat a hypoallergenic diet of whole foods and drink lots of water to keep the intestines hydrated. Eliminate-or at least reduce-refined carbohydrates and sugars. Honey and syrup appear to be better than sucrose, which is better than fructose. Excess consumption of trans fats can cause irritation and irregular contractions in the intestines. Opt for moderate servings of healthy fats found in foods such as olive oil, flaxseed oil, avocado, salmon, and chopped nuts.

* Steer clear of caffeine and coffee. Not only will caffeine shock the intestines, but as a central nervous system stimulant, it will add stress to your whole body.

* Be careful with dairy. Milk, cheese, and other dairy products are notorious for aggravating the bowels and causing diarrhea or constipation, gas, bloating, and nausea. This may be due to lactose-intolerance, or it may be a reaction to cow’s-milk proteins. Some over-over-the counter medications will help the former; abstinence will help the latter. Most plain yogurts are OK.

* Watch out for wheat and other gluten-containing starches. These too can aggravate the intestines and trigger food sensitivities and allergies. In some cases, potential IBS suffers may in fact have celiac disease, otherwise known as gluten sensitivity. The symptoms are similar, including diarrhea and discomfort, but with celiac disease, gluten can cause serious damage to the intestinal lining. In this case, abstaining from gluten is the only option. A simple blood test can help diagnose celiac disease.

* Don’t neutralize yourself. Avoid or eliminate antacids. If you’re eating right, you shouldn’t have an excess acid problem. IBS is not heartburn, so taking antacids won’t bring true relief. Also eliminate proton pump inhibitors – acid suppression drugs used to treat ulcers – and antihistamines, which reduce acid levels. These too will slow digestion and worsen IBS by creating dysbiosis.

* Exercise. Just like the other muscles in the body, the intestines are toned and regulated by moderate, regular exercise. Over time, doctors have observed that people who don’t exercise tend to have more sluggish bowels, which, in turn, exacerbates IBS.

* Take probiotics. This is a must for anyone with IBS. Regardless of the causes of your condition, the balance of good bacteria in your intestines is probably precarious at best. Supplementing with a combination of lactobacillus and bifidobacteria is one of the most effective aids for the digestive tract. Recent research suggests taking at least 50 to 100 billion cfu (colony forming units) daily for IBS. For intestinal recovery after a cycle of antibiotics, take 20 to 40 billions cfu daily. Refrigerated cultures are preferred over unrefrigerated pills and powders. Home-made yogurt is an excellent source of probiotics, but commercial yogurts often have much lower counts.

Specific remedies

Considering again an integrated approach to treatment, related complications may be present and need to be addressed with the help of a health practitioner.

* IBS sufferers with pancreatic insufficiency should supplement with pancreatic enzymes.

* A person with insufficient bile should drink lots of water and take supplements that help the body use fat, such as milk thistle, taurine, and selenium. These support the liver and the communication between the liver and the colon, helping the body maintain proper bile levels and fat absorption rates.

* A person who has parasites or other microorganisms can benefit from anti-parasitic herbs such as black walnut, wormwood, goldenseal, and oil of oregano. Oftentimes, additional drug treatment is necessary; new medicines are now available in the United States.

* If you have yeast overgrowth, limit sugar, flour, and refined grains. Take vitamin B6 in combination with anti-fungal supplements. If conditions persist, more aggressive treatment with antifungals may be necessary.

* If you have bacterial overgrowth, support stomach acid, and avoid acid suppression therapies. If conditions persist for more than four to six weeks after beginning to use those tactics, antimicrobial herbs or antibiotics (along with probiotics) may be necessary.

* For nutrient deficiency and poor nutrition, supplement with vitamins and minerals. Generally people with IBS have low levels of B vitamins, which are absorbed at the end of the small intestine, the location of bacterial overgrowth. Supplementation with B-complex and a multivitamin is important and useful. Occasionally additional B-12 is also necessary.

Inflammation from infection, food allergies, or dysbiosis may also damage the intestinal villi, the microscopic projections in the lining of the gastrointestinal tract that absorb nutrients and carry them to the blood. L-glutamine is effective at healing and repairing the villi, but it is essential to remedy the underlying problems first. L-glutamine can be used as a source of food by unwanted bacteria and yeast. It should only be taken as a restorative after the other conditions have been treated.

Many times, psychological and stress disorders get better with an improved diet and proper treatment of an individual’s underlying causes, but for serious or stubborn issues, professional counseling and stress management are helpful in controlling IBS symptoms.

Getting through to the other side

Because IBS is a collection of different symptoms that affect individuals in varying forms and intensity, it’s nearly impossible to prescribe a blanket protocol for treatment and management of the condition. The best approach is to first start with the basics.

Begin with the dietary changes; take out common food allergens like milk and wheat, and experiment to find out what other foods may cause you trouble. Stay away from the simple sugars, which can act as a food source for unwanted bacteria. Avoid caffeine, trans fats, refined carbohydrates, acid suppressants, and large meals.

Most people should see significant improvement after following these guidelines. If you make these changes and still don’t feel better, consult a healthcare practitioner for an in-depth examination to rule out infection, parasites, inflammation, or other disease processes.

Each case of IBS is a unique collection of symptoms and causes, an imbalance in the digestive system that can be effectively corrected by the individual, sometimes with the help of a healthcare practitioner who understands diet and nutrition. Take the integrative approach, and trust your gut. IBS is signal of imbalance; improvement in your gut will help you to feel healthy from the inside, out.

Do You Have IBS?

If you go to a doctor to find out if you have IBS, the doctor will consider the Rome Criteria, which is the following checklist of typical symptoms. For a quick self-check, see the list below, but don’t consider this a replacement for a visit to your healthcare practitioner.

ROME II SYMPTOM CRITERIA FOR IBS

In the past 12 months, experiencing at least 12 weeks (not necessarily consecutive) of abdominal discomfort or pain that has two out of three of the following features:

1) Discomfort is relieved with defecation.

2) Onset is associated with a change in frequency of stool.

3) Onset is associated with a change in form appearance of stool.

Other symptoms that are not essential but support the diagnosis of IBS include the following:

* Abnormal stool frequency (more than three bowel movements a day or fewer than three bowel movements a week)

* Abnormal stool form (lumpy/hard or loose/watery stool)

* Abnormal stool passage (straining, urgency, or feeling of incomplete evacuation)

* Passage of mucus

* Bloating or feeling of abdominal distension

Symptoms in the Rome Criteria are not the only indicators of IBS.

Non-intestinal symptoms include the following:

* Nausea

* Fatigue

* Full sensation after even a small meal

* Vomiting

Many women have chosen this course of treatment to decrease symptoms associated with menopause. However, there are issues to consider. While HRT can be a blessing for some, it can also be a curse for others. Although it is reported to maintain strong bones and prevent heart disease, it can also increase the risk of breast cancer. In addition, it may assert itself by invoking side affects which can affect a woman’s life.

Because the production of estrogen ceases during menopause, the loss results in the symptoms commonly associated with menopause. Thus, many women decide to replace the lost estrogen through HRT in order to reduce these symptoms. However, there are contradictory reports about the long-term effects, leaving women in an uncomfortable position as to whether or not replacement therapy is right for them.

There are two schools of thought on using HRT. While it has been documented that Hormone Replacement Therapy is an effective remedy in reducing symptoms such as: hot flashes sleep disturbances, and vaginal discomfort; others believe women who did not have symptoms had worse physical function and lower energy levels when taking hormone therapy.

Many women decide against using HRT because they are concerned about the risk of developing cancer. Often, they prefer to take other steps to reduce their risk of osteoporosis and heart disease. Studies are on-going to determine the effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy over a long period of time.

While some women and their doctors feel that HRT’s beneficial effects on cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and general quality of life outweigh the risk of developing cancer; others are concerned about the possible negative effects of long-term HRT use. Many women choose to reduce the risks of osteoporosis and heart disease by exercising regularly, avoiding tobacco products, eating a balanced diet, and/or taking dietary supplements or other medications.

Whether or not to take HRT is a decision you ultimately have to make. In recent years, there have been reports of health risks associated with hormone replacement therapy. If you have been prescribed either Primpro or Premarin, you may choose other alternatives, such as utilizing a natural form of estrogen. By establishing a balance a proper diet, stress management and using natural progesterone supplementation, the hot flashes, night sweats and other symptoms of menopause are either significantly alleviated or completely eliminated.

One of those methods of treatment are TMJ exercises. Before determining the correct exercises many practitioners who are experienced in TMJ attempt to find the areas of the body that are out of alignment and may be causing the tension in the jaw.

People who are suffering from the pain and discomfort of the jaw from TMJ may also find they experience dizziness, ear pain, knee pain, scoliosis and shoulder problems. These issues may come before the TMJ or as a result of the TMJ. The TMJ pain may be a symptom of other underlying issues with your body. Think of a person having a heart attack. The heart is in the chest but people often complain of pain in the arms, back and stomach areas.

People who suffer from TMJ find that TMJ exercises are a great adjunct to any other therapy, night splint or anti-inflammatory medication they may be taking.

There are some specific TMJ exercises that can help to relax the jaw and get rid of the pain. These may sound simple but sometimes the simplest answer is the best. Give these a try.
Stand tall, shoulders back. Your posture affects the way your jaw is set. With good posture your jaw is in the correct place a good place to start!
Practice stretching your neck and shoulders twice a day to improve the relaxation of your jaw.
Think about relaxing the muscles in your jaw
Dont clench during the day. Repeat this little phrase to remind yourself to keep your jaw relaxed: Lips together, teeth apart, from this rule do not depart!

Aside from exercises you may find avoiding activities on the side of your body which experiences the TMJ pain may help to decrease the pain. For instance, if the pain is on the right side of the jaw and you are right handed you may want to learn to use the computer mouse in your left hand, or get a sharp knife to chop so you arent exerting so much pressure, or use a fanny pack instead of a heavy purse on your shoulders.

On top of the TMJ exercises there are other things that you can do to help the pain. You should try to avoid hard foods and avoid overusing your jaw, like chewing gum. Use an over the counter anti-inflammatory like Advil. Learn some stress management techniques and stand tall. Avoid spending hours at the computer since holding your neck stiff will aggravate your TMJ. Try a mouth guard for night use because night grinding will aggravate TMJ.

TMJ exercises are important to decrease the pain and discomfort you feel from temperomandibular joint syndrome. Although there are other options available such as lifestyle changes (different foods, relaxation techniques) and night splints TMJ exercises are a long-term solution to this problem.

You will not find any philosophies, theories or fluff presented here because frankly, we do not have time for that and chances are neither do you. Enjoy and learn four stress-management techniques; diaphragmatic breathing, affirmations, visualizations, and progressive muscular relaxation accompanied by soothing, uplifting m… More >>

Indigo Dreams: Adult Relaxation-Guided Meditation/Relaxation Techniques decrease anxiety, stress, anger

Instead, you are using your energies towards thinking about and planning for the good things that are coming to you. When you are tired and stressed over situations, it is hard to keep a positive outlook on your life.

This is because suddenly stress makes you feel depressed and sad. A positive outlook makes you happy and ready to face the world.

You need to keep a positive outlook on life to help you combat stress. Most people who deal well with the stresses in their lives are the ones that can look changes and situation in the face. They are not afraid to deal with these problems.

They can smile and find the good things in almost any situation. This is a good way to live life and for the most part, when you know how to have a positive outlook, you can deal more effectively with stress.

There are several ways you can develop a healthier outlook on your life and leave the stress behind you. You never want stress to get in your way of life. When you learn to stay positive, you will find that every aspect of your life runs smoother and happier. It will become easier for you to stay on the positive side of life. Here is how to do it so that you can combat stress each and every day.

First off, you will need to start looking for the positives in life. As mentioned before, there are people who seem to be able to do this no matter what they are faced with. They find exactly the good things about any situation and they do not dwell on the negative. This is a great asset to have.

If you are not like this, then you will start out slow. When something gets in your way and you find yourself feeling stressed, then stop and look at the situation again. What can you gain from this situation? Even something that makes you sad can have a positive in there somewhere. You may have to look hard, but this is key in improving the outlook.

Set small goals for yourself. This is another great way to combat stress. Many times, we get so wrapped up in what we have to do that we cant see a way out. This may feel like mounting pressure or endless checklists of things to do. When you start feeling this way, start off small. Make a pact with yourself to check one thing off of your list each day. Complete your tasks on by one. You will find that not only are you accomplishing your goals, but you feel less stressed in the process. This will certainly improve your outlook on life.

As you can see, there are ways to improve the outlook in your life. When you go for the positives in your life, you will find that you are less often plagued with stress.

Change can be stressful or it can be a good thing. We all learn stress management techniques either through watching how others handle stress or by learning through educational resources such as taking a stress management class. We may have learned techniques such as doing yoga or other relaxation techniques in order to handle stress. We may have learned how to take time to enjoy life more, or how having a hobby can help us to manage stress. Just when we think we have stress management all figured out our life changes in some way and what we may have been doing before all of a sudden doesn’t work for us. It is at these times when change can totally mess us up.

Change can throw us off balance and make us re-evaluate what we are doing, and how we are managing our lives including how we manage stress. Since life changes are an inevitable part of life, dealing with change needs to also be a part of our stress management abilities.

You can learn some useful tips on how to effectively manage stress when change is in the equation including the following:

First of all you need to recognize when a change is about to hit you. Common changes include experiencing illness or death of someone close to you, accidents happen, pregnancy can happen and definitely changes things, marriage and divorces happen, people get job promotions or get hired or get fired, people move, there will always be changes in your financial situation, and people enter and leave the work force.

Changes can cause stress simply because change brings with it emotion. Just throw a few changes to a child and watch the play of emotions taking place. Small changes or big changes, it doesn’t matter all change can bring about stress. Small changes such as being detoured because of construction can be stressful or having a child becomes ill unrepentantly even if it is just the sniffles. Large changes are understandably stressful such as a move.

Now, how to manage change?

Manage change by looking at priorities

Take time out for physical activities every day

Eat all meals and snacks to give your body fuel

In times of change rely on other family members to take up the slack with household chores

Require yourself to take short breaks

Remind yourself to think in positive terms, avoiding all negative thoughts

Actively plan a stress management strategy for changes such as recognizing the types of change that are likely to be in your near future. Learn the warning signs for change related stress, such as anxiety, sleep issues, irritability and changes in mood. Keep building your support system so that when change happens your support system will be strong.

There is much more money to be made through the pushing of pills and toxic treatments than there is condoning a healthy lifestyle with proper nutritional counselling, vitamin and nutritional therapy, exercise, stress management and alternative health therapies (like aromatherapy) when needed.

What Western medicine refuses to see is that our bodies are made up of so much more than just physical things. Not only are we physical bodies, we are spirit, we are energy, we are a holistic unit that must operate on balance. It is when a body operates out of balance that the groundwork for diseases like cancer and many others can take hold.

It is beyond the scope of this newsletter to discuss the many other more natural treatments that are available to those who face the battle of their lives. In researching this piece, I went to Google and typed in “essential oils+cancer treatment” and was boggled at the information contained there.

Essential oils can be used during conventional allopathic treatments, though some physicians may prefer you do not. Ultimately the choice must be yours. Check out our recipe section for more ideas. Some oils that have been used on the skin before radiation treatments are Niaouli, Tea tree, Cajaput and Lavender (blended into all natural aloe vera taken straight from the plant is best as it is healing and won’t leave the skin greasy).

If you or someone you love is dealing with cancer try not to lose faith. Sometimes faith and a positive attitude can make the difference between beating the disease or allowing it to beat you.

Below is a list of essential oils which are considered safe (with no known contra-indications) to use externally and by diffusing in palliative care. Use in a normal dilution.

* Cajaput may help to combat or prevent infection and also has pain killing properties. It can be a skin irritant and stimulant, so use sparingly and not before sleep.
* Clary Sage helps with stress & tension, is a powerful mental and muscle relaxant.
* Cypress is an antispasmodic and may help with nervous tension.
* Helichrysum is an anti-inflammatory and can help with lethargy and depression.
* German Chamomile is soothing, calming, anti-inflammatory and anti-depressant.
* Ginger is helpful with nausea.
* Frankincense helps to produce feelings of calm and deepens breathing.
* Lavender (angustifolium) is calming, soothing, headaches, and healing.
* Marjoram is warming to the body and mind and helps with insomnia.
* Myrrh is antiseptic, healing and anti-inflammatory.
* Niaouli is a powerful tissue stimulant and is antiseptic.
* Neroli is an antidepressant and a gentle sedative. It can help with anxiety and stimulate the growth of new skin cells.
* Petitgrain is an antidepressant and can help with insomnia.
* Roman Chamomile is soothing, calming, anti-inflammatory and anti-depressant.
* Rose is a gentle anti-depressant and a tonic on the nervous system.
* Sandalwood is sedative and antiseptic.
* Spikenard is deeply relaxing, helpful for letting go of emotional blocks or deep seated pain. It is antiseptic, sedative and anti-infectious.
* Tea tree is a powerful immuno-stimulant (may help to build strength before treatments).
* Vetivert is deeply relaxing and can help with stress, anxiety, insomnia shock, bereavement and trauma.
* Ylang ylang can help to slow too rapid breathing, slows heartbeat (sedative), helpful for anxiety, and is an antidepressant.

This oil blend for a friend who was battling breast cancer. She used it dutifully in her bath, in a massage oil and through inhalation and she found that emotionally and physically it helped her get through her treatment.

* 2.5 ml myrtle
* 2.5 ml myrrh
* 2.5 ml frankincense
* 2.5 ml geranium

This blend can be added to a carrier oil (in a 1% dilution), diffused directly into the air or utilized in a bath (no more than 5 drops per tub if you are undergoing radiation or chemotherapy treatment).

* Disclaimer *

The information provided here is for educational purposes only and is not intended as diagnosis, treatment, or prescription for any disease. The decision to use, or not to use, any of this information is the sole responsibility of the reader.

PureCalm is a natural, safe and effective liquid herbal formula that works quickly to eliminate symptoms of tension, anxiety, stress, panic attacks and irritability. PureCalm helps maintain balanced emotions during everyday pressure, stress and common nervous tension. Created by a clinical psychologist, this remedy is pharmaceutically manufactured to the highest standards, combining the soothing properties of Lemon Balm with those of Lavender and Passion Flower, to bring you relief within minutes! For those who suffer from chronic anxiety and severe panic attacks, combine PureCalm with MindSoothe for effective long-term reduction of your symptoms.

The more you pray the more intimate your relationship with God becomes. It involves more than just asking for help. You can discuss the happenings of your day; you can give thanks to him for all his divine blessings; you can ask him to share his blessings with your family and the whole world; you can even use it as a way to listen to God.

The use of prayer can be a great form of stress relief. However it requires that you believe in God and that you have faith that he knows what is best for you and most importantly that he will look after you.

By praying to God for help, especially during stressful periods, during your darkest hours, you can rest assured that God is listening to you and will help. No matter how hopeless your situation may be, have belief that miracles can and do happen. This ultimately gives you hope and the strength to carry on in your time of need.

Incorporate a regular prayer schedule in to your life. It does not take much time or effort to say a small prayer just after you wake up and/or before you go to sleep. It is your opportunity to thank God for his continual blessings and help, to tell him you love him and acknowledge that he loves you. The more you do this, the more blessings you will receive. Over time, you will find that your life will become easier, and hence less stressful. And if times get tough, your strengthened spirit will help you deal with stress better.

Related Natural Product

PureCalm is a natural, safe and effective liquid herbal formula that works quickly to eliminate symptoms of tension, anxiety, stress, panic attacks and irritability. PureCalm helps maintain balanced emotions during everyday pressure, stress and common nervous tension. Created by a clinical psychologist, this remedy is pharmaceutically manufactured to the highest standards, combining the soothing properties of Lemon Balm with those of Lavender and Passion Flower, to bring you relief within minutes! For those who suffer from chronic anxiety, PTSD and/or severe panic attacks, combine PureCalm with MindSoothe for effective long-term reduction of your symptoms.

About the author

David Tomaselli is the creator of the Wholistic Development Exchange. The Wholistic Development Exchange is a web site focusing on Stress Management. Here you can access frequently updated tips, news and resources on how to reduce stress and manage stress.

We all know how stress wreaks havoc to our overall health. Aside from the more obvious fact that stress takes out joy and serenity in our lives, it is also the root of many illnesses known to man. The negative effects of stress in our lives can and will bring several problems such as: heart diseases, depression, migraine, eating disorders and many others.

Having your own garden in the backyard is an easy and highly accessible method of stress relief. Since a vegetable garden is fairly easier to look after than one with ornamental plants, you know that working on your garden does not simply create additional stresses.

The weekends are perfect to unwind and make up for stressful hours during a week-long of taxing hours spent at the workplace. Different people have different ways of getting rid of stress. Imagine if you have a vegetable garden in your backyard; just don your gardening attire, step out and you can immediately get in touch with nature and put behind you the stresses of life. Now compare that to a weekend at the beach. Just the long hours of travel, heavy traffic, and the additional expenses for gas and accommodation will only add to your already stressful life.

Relishing the sunlight

Getting enough sunlight while tending your vegetable garden alone will already significantly improve your mood. Its also a great and productive way to have enough vitamin D, which is necessary for proper absorption of calcium in your body. Try to picture some of the happiest moments of your childhood; it is without a doubt that most of them were spent under the nourishing radiance of the sun.

Hours spent at the office means exposure to unnatural light. Not that it is bad to be exposed to light coming from incandescent bulbs, but the lack of being exposed to natural light of the sun is. For sure those skyscrapers are blocking out the sunlight from directly hitting your skin even as you walk to work in the morning.

Attending to the needs of your vegetable garden in the backyard is a great opportunity to get enough sunlight. However, it is best if you forgo gardening from 11 am to 3 pm as the sun within this timeframe is most likely to cause you irreversible skin damage and cancer.

Surrounded with life

Being surrounded with plants alone is both invigorating and encouraging. Days and days spent indoors and at the workplace prevent us from getting in touch with nature, thus we tend to have limited means to appreciate everything thats grand and beautiful in life. Picture yourself being surrounded with plants that teem with life and growth, and their edible parts improve the appetite and nourish the body with essential vitamins and minerals.

Having your on little piece of nature can help you get rid of stress. The sight of your vegetable garden alone gets rid of stress by giving you that rewarding feeling, knowing you raised those healthy plants with your own hands. Raking, digging, weeding, pruning and harvesting all these activities done while planting vegetable gardens provide a constructive outlet for all the tensions that the body amassed during a week of stressful work.

Related Natural Product

PureCalm is a natural, safe and effective liquid herbal formula that works quickly to eliminate symptoms of tension, anxiety, stress, panic attacks and irritability. PureCalm helps maintain balanced emotions during everyday pressure, stress and common nervous tension. Created by a clinical psychologist, this remedy is pharmaceutically manufactured to the highest standards, combining the soothing properties of Lemon Balm with those of Lavender and Passion Flower, to bring you relief within minutes! For those who suffer from chronic anxiety, PTSD and/or severe panic attacks, combine PureCalm with MindSoothe for effective long-term reduction of your symptoms.

When you are talking about stress, you are talking about the way you feel and the way your body reacts to certain situations. Stress can be caused by small things that happen to you such as remembering you left the iron on or it can be caused by major issues in your life like a terminal illness in the family or a leaky roof on the house.

When you are feeling stressed, this can lead to other problems. Sometimes you stress may be so severe that you have a hard time dealing with it. That may be when it is time to seek professional help.

The good news is that you can seek professional help when you are overcome with stress. There are all sorts of counselors and professionals that can help you work through your situation no matter how big or small. Therapists deal with people who are feeling overly stressed on a daily basis. They can help you work through your day and can help you strike a good balance to help you out.

Maybe you are feeling stressed. How do you know when you need to seek medical attention? First of all, think about your emotions. Are you upset by your stress you are feeling? Are these feelings making you feel that you cannot contribute to society? Is it getting in your way of feeling happy and dealing with your family? Are your conditions getting worse? When you answer yes to these questions, then it is time to seek medical attention for you stress.

There are other symptoms you may feel when you are feeling stressed. If you feel sad or upset that you cannot get your work or tasks completed then you need some help. You might also feel resentful towards others or you may find that your work begins to suffer. You may also feel frustrated to the point of giving up.

That is a common way some people deal with stress. They feel that they can never get caught up, so they just throw in the towel. Of course, you may also experience other, physical conditions that all point to stress. These symptoms may include anxiety and panic attacks (see a doctor if this applies to you), muscle twitches, sweating, fatigue abdominal pain, weight loss or for some, weight gain. Dizziness, rapid heart rate, high blood pressure and even headaches can all be caused by stress.

These feelings and symptoms would be good indicators that you need to seek professional help for your feelings of stress.

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Managing Stress and Anxiety – Stress eats away at your health. But hypnosis can reduce stress & strengthen the immune system. Experience total relaxation, plus stress & anxiety management. Through hypnosis, which is a focused state of attention that increases suggestibility, you will be guided through exercises that help you learn how to adapt to stressful situations, resolve existing anxieties, and create new ways of looking at the world. The 2-CD set includes three hypnosis sessions: total relaxation, stress management, and anxiety management. Learn more about Managing Stress and Anxiety now!

According to the American Heart Association, the most reported symptom of a heart attack in men and women is chest pain. The difference is that women are also more likely to present symptoms such as anxiety, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain, as well as shortness of breath, back and jaw pain. Other symptoms of a heart attack experienced more frequently by women include fainting and breaking into a cold sweat.

Many more people could recover from heart attacks if they received help faster. Of the people who die from heart attacks, about half die within an hour of the first symptoms, and before they reach the hospital.

If you think you or someone you know is having a heart attack, it is essential to call 911 within minutes -experts say no more than 5- to increase chances of survival.  As always, prevention is best. Keeping cholesterol levels and high blood pressure in check is crucial to cardiovascular health.

In general, cholesterol is associated with obesity, but that is not always the case. Although obese people have a greater risk of high levels of cholesterol in their blood, many people who have a healthy weight have high cholesterol, too. The same can be said for diabetes and hypertension. The bottom line for prevention is to follow a heart-healthy lifestyle.

Maintaining body weight within a healthy range and exercising at least an hour daily should be part of your heart-healthy plan. Also, following a balanced diet with approximately 30 percent of calories from monounsaturated fats such as olive oil, canola, fish and nuts and limiting saturated fats is recommended. Managing stress levels, anxiety and depression should also be incorporated into your plan.

Holistic medicine teaches us that all systems in the body are interrelated, so with this in mind, it is necessary to make sure all organs are supported and working properly. For our hearts to be healthy, focus should also include liver, gallbladder and pancreatic health, as well as nervous and circulatory systems health.

Herbal and homeopathic remedies can provide effective, safe relief without compromising health or risking serious side effects. Natural remedies have been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years to support heart health.

With so many resources available in nature to assist us in our quest to well-being; it is up to us to make good use of them and start reaping the benefits of good health today.

The Ins & Outs of Healthy Hearts

Stop smoking: Many people think that smoking causes mainly respiratory problems, but smoking damages the arteries and is a major cause of atherosclerosis, a build up of fatty substances in the arteries.

Detoxify the liver: Crucial to heart health, a healthy liver metabolizes fat and keeps cholesterol levels in check. Milk thistle has been used for over 2,000 years to promote liver and gallbladder health.

Eat your oatmeal: Oats are another of nature’s cholesterol-reducing wonders. In addition, oats have a calming effect on the nervous system, which can in turn assist in soothing stress and anxiety, as well as helping to regulate sleep patterns.

Take a break: Healthy stress management can make or break heart health. We all have to face stressors in our daily lives; learn to manage it with deep breathing, daily exercise, and meditation.

Get enough sleep: Healthy sleep routines will go a long way in promoting your emotional and physical health, which is priceless to your heart.

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High-Rite is a natural, safe, effective and powerful herbal formula for hypertension and blood pressure control. High-Rite helps to balance and regulate blood pressure; address some of the contributory factors causing high blood pressure. While some of the ingredients in this remedy specifically target blood vessels which have become constricted, others improve the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively, while also treating and preventing plaque build up in the arteries. High-Rite also helps to reduce stress and boost the body’s ability to fight illness. Formulated by a clinical psychologist, High-Rite and Cholesto-Rite are pharmaceutically manufactured to the highest standards.

If you watch TV or read magazines then you are being force fed the idea that men are supposed to handle a supernatural number of tasks all at once. Chances are you are good at handling a few of the daily stresses that men go through but not all of them. The stress can be overwhelming at times.

How do you react when things start to get overwhelming? A lot of men get depressed or irritable when they can’t seem to keep up with life’s multiple tasks. Like they are inadequate or just plain not good enough. New studies have shown that depression leads to anger. Being an angry person is not good for anyone involved. Let’s try to figure out how to avoid this nasty cycle before it even starts!

First of all you have to realize that when things start to bog you down the first thing you must do is take one giant step back and assess the situation. If you keep on trucking ahead then you will most definitely fall off the edge and do something you will regret. Something that can help a lot is getting into some kind of stress management workshop or online course. In the modern world it is almost a necessity.

I have a daily meditation that can help you manage stress more effectively. Read this a couple of times then try it for yourself:

Sit down in a comfortable chair or on a couple of pillows with your back flat against the wall. Be sure you are sitting up perfectly straight. Close your eyes. Begin breathing deeply and in your mind’s eye picture a glowing circle in front of you. The circle begins to get larger and then becomes flat. Now it is just a circular path. Picture yourself walking along this path and eventually breaking into a steady run. You are running in circles and not getting anywhere at all.

You are becoming frustrated because you are not getting anyhere, simply running circles. What is the point of all this!? You come to a halt and glance backwards. Wait a second there is no point at all since you are on a circular path. As you look around you notice what you have been missing. The landscape is beautiful! There are tall pine trees and a crystal clear lake in the center of the path. The sun is retreating behind the distant mountains coloring the sky a beautiful shade or red’s and yellows.

Begin walking very slowly. Let your imagination flow. With each step you take a new spectacular view unfolds right in front of you. Waterfalls, mountains and fields of lush vegetation. All of a sudden the golden circle completely falls apart and you are left with nothing but spectacular journeys.

You can do this for as long as you like but make sure it last’s at least 10 minutes. 20 minutes is ideal once you have been doing it for awhile. Try this meditation everyday and you will conquer your stress once and for all.

Managing Stress and Anxiety – Stress eats away at your physical and psychological health. But here’s the good news: one recent study showed that medical students who learned some of the techniques used in this hypnosis program significantly reduced exam-time stress. And blood samples revealed that the students’ immune systems became stronger the more they practiced the techniques! The 2-CD set includes three hypnosis sessions: total relaxation, stress management, and anxiety management. Learn more about Managing Stress and Anxiety now!

What Is Autogenic Training?

Autogenic training is a type of stress reduction technique. It acts by helping you to attain a meditative state in which you will be able to learn to control your body’s reaction to suggestion. From there, you will be able to commence taking control of your life and defeating the ravages of stress.

In a nutshell, the method acts to reverse the stress response in the body. Once we’re stressed, the body responds as though it were detecting peril. This is termed the fight or flight reaction. It’s generally shown when we feel that we’re in jeopardy or in peril of bodily damage.

It results in a intensified awareness. Pupils dilate to bring in additional light. The pulse rate steps up. Adrenalin is released into the system, gearing up your muscles for a battle or to have to run for your life.

Well, imagine being in that state of high alert all the time. Whenever we’re stressed, that’s in essence what the body is doing. It can bring havoc to our systems and cause conditions like elevated blood pressure, anxiety, tension, irritability, anguish and headaches.

Autogenics utilizes the body itself to bring down the stress. Here is how it functions. This meditative process was 1st exploited by a man named Johannes Schulz in Germany in the thirties. Through utilizing affirmations spoken aloud, the body can be lulled into a easier state simply through suggestion.

The autonomic nervous system which governs the fight or flight reaction is bore upon. Autogenics has been shown to deliver positive effects on those suffering from stress, seasonal affective disorder and similar conditions in the body.

You can rehearse it with very little training. Start by finding a serene location where you will not be distracted. It’s crucial to be free of distractions of any sort. Get rid of tight clothes, glasses and even contacts. Relax in a chair or lie down flat on the floor.

Control your respiration. If you do not already know, find out how to breathe deeply from the diaphragm to step-up your oxygen intake. Begin with a positive affirmation. If you’re attempting to reach a calming state, employ that as your affirmation.

You are setting the stage, then focus on your arms. State that they’re becoming heavy and then experiencing warmth. Now, proceed to your legs and duplicate the same affirmations.

You will be able to move from there to concentrate on other parts of your body and then your heart rate, your breathing, and any additional regions of your body that may show stress. Continue to duplicate your affirmations in addition to affirming the fact that you’re in a calm state. You’re completely mindful of your environment so your body will react. Once you’re totally at ease you may open your eyes.

Autogenic therapy has a positive effect on conditions like stress, heart issues and hypertension. Teaching your body to react to relaxation can abbreviate the fight or flight response started by stress in the body.

PureCalm is a natural, safe and effective liquid herbal formula that works quickly to eliminate symptoms of tension, anxiety, stress, panic attacks and irritability.  PureCalm helps maintain balanced emotions during everyday pressure, stress and common nervous tension.

Created by a clinical psychologist, this remedy is pharmaceutically manufactured to the highest standards, combining the soothing properties of Lemon Balm with those of Lavender and Passion Flower, to bring you relief within minutes! For those who suffer from chronic anxiety, PTSD and/or severe panic attacks, combine PureCalm with MindSoothe for effective long-term reduction of your symptoms.

If you’re among the 1000s who are feeling under pressure to perform on the job, here are a few tension busters that might help you to recover control and relish your work environment once again.

Stress in the workplace has cost insurance firms big bucks over the years. And employers have been hit as well by loss of hours at work. Trouble in the workplace has sent workman’s comp claims rising in recent years. One technique to fight this is through stress management at the workplace.

Here are a few ideas to fight back the feelings of strain once they rise up.

Remember, do not allow stress to get away from you or brush it aside. Striking at the get-go steps up your chances of handling it successfully and having a more enjoyable experience at work.

* Get a little sunshine – Exposure to sunshine is at a minimum in most offices. Folks underestimate the value of natural light. Basking in the sunlight brings up levels of serotonin in the brain. This neurotransmitter is the one which is responsible for our moods. And, you want to be in a fine one. Consider breaks outdoors or a energizing walk at lunchtime to help you to absorb a little old-fashioned vitamin D.

* Lower tension – This might relate back to your chair. Many chairs are excessively remains and do not compensate for the curvature of the back. This might lead to tension and anguish in the lower back and even the shoulders if you do work on the computer. At your desk, make certain that your chair is aligned to a height that allows your legs to tough the floor at a 90 degree angle to your body. Likewise ensure that your arms do the same while they tap the keyboard. This will take the strain off your neck while executing repetitive motions.

* Breathe – Have you ever noticed the air quality in your office? You might require an air purifier at your desk. They can be costly but you can acquire some time outside alternatively. Take long, deep breaths. The additional oxygen might help clear up the mist from your brain in the afternoon after lunchtime. If your desk is situated near the copy room, ask to be moved if possible. Copiers accumulate a lot of dust and that’s not beneficial for the surroundings, the air quality or your lungs.

* Say no – we’re frequently stressed because we accept too many tasks. It’s alright to do your job and reach to do more, but do not overburden yourself to the point of too numerous projects coming due at once. You can not possibly do your finest work that way. Recognize your job description and do not be fearful to let your foreman know what you can not handle.

Is your line of work breaking down your psyche? Apply these tips to help keep you in top mental shape for whatever lies ahead.

PureCalm is a natural, safe and effective liquid herbal formula that works quickly to eliminate symptoms of tension, anxiety, stress, panic attacks and irritability.  PureCalm helps maintain balanced emotions during everyday pressure, stress and common nervous tension.

Created by a clinical psychologist, this remedy is pharmaceutically manufactured to the highest standards, combining the soothing properties of Lemon Balm with those of Lavender and Passion Flower, to bring you relief within minutes! For those who suffer from chronic anxiety, PTSD and/or severe panic attacks, combine PureCalm with MindSoothe for effective long-term reduction of your symptoms.

We are making sure we take that thirty minutes per day for ourselves, praying or doing meditation, eating as well as we think we can, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, playing sports and numerous other things we’ve read about that might reduce stress. We’ve used time management skills in order to accomplish more. Tomorrow we wake up and repeat the entire process again. It’s no longer unusual – it’s accepted and expected.

We live in a society that values activity. A friend calls on the phone and asks what we’re doing. We answer, ‘Keeping busy.’ We’re so busy being active that we haven’t taken the time to consider alternatives to the methods we’re presently using to manage stress.

There might be a better way to manage if we could slow down long enough to recognize it, analyze it and plan for it. Our emphasis has shifted from prevention to relief.

I’m going to introduce some new concepts to you regarding prevention. I want to shift your thinking from stress relief to stress management. We are going to have stressors in life. Life happens. It’s unrealistic to expect otherwise but there are steps we can take to make it manageable and realistic.

In addition to the relief measures we use in our day to day life, we are going to shift our way of thinking to bring lasting change. I’ll admit it’s easier to concentrate on short term, immediate gratification with measures such as relaxation and meditation but unless we evaluate the root causes of our stress, we will continue to suffer. We can continue to go with the flow or we can choose to be proactive.

We are now familiar with the havoc that having chronic stress in our lives does to our bodies. It’s time to turn off that switch and feel our heart rates come back to normal.

I’m going to ask you to complete a different kind of stress assessment. Give it some thought and take the week to work on it. Be aware of how you react to situations, be perceptive. How you think you react may be entirely different than how you actually do.

Stress Assessment

* Do you find yourself easily irritated?

* Do you fail to see the humor in situations others find funny?

* Do you feel you have the time to complete your to do list?

* Are you in a supervisory position at work or a parent of under age children?

* Do you find it irritating when others have an opposing view?

* Would you prefer to finish tasks yourself instead of asking for help?

* Are you currently unemployed or underemployed?

* Do you have a spiritual life?

* Do you frequently find yourself using the terms: ‘Awful’ or Catastrophe?

* How often do you think to yourself, ‘I can’t do this.’ Or, “I can’t stand this.’

* Are you going through a divorce, break up of a long term

* relationship or grieving the loss of a loved one?

* Have you recently relocated or are you planning to?

* Do you find yourself waiting until the last minute for

* deadlines?

* Do you take care of yourself, ie: diet, exercise, grooming?

* Do you have supportive relationships with family and friends?

* Do you have difficulty saying ‘No’ to people?

* Do you have teenage children?

* Are your surroundings organized, clean and comfortable?

* Do you follow a budget or have a plan to pay expenses?

* Are you satisfied with your relationship with your significant other?

* Do you frequently feel your boss asks too much of you?

* Do you have insomnia?

* Do you eat too much or too little?

* Do you frequently find yourself pacing or wringing your hands?

* Do you or someone close to you have legal matters pending?

* Do you or someone close to you have health issues?

Print this page out and use the assessment to determine the stressors present in your life. The greater number, the more you need increased strategies for management.

Watch for additional articles that suggest the methods we encourage for lasting management.

About the author

Cathy Gariety is a Registered Nurse and CEO of Gariety Group Consulting – a firm specializing in stress management providing services to individuals, corporate and healthcare facilities. She is also Editor of their Stress Buster newsletter. Email stresscoach@getresponse.com for a complimentary Mini Stress Management E-Course delivered to your email address once per week for four weeks

Two things are true…we all live with germs and we all deal with stress. The type and level of germs and the type and level of stress may vary and then there are the variables associated with how well we have learned how to manage stress.

If we manage stress poorly, stress can intensify and cause damage. Stress can cause physical, emotional and mental symptoms in children, teens, and adults. Even an unborn baby can be affected by the level of stress the mom-to-be is experiencing especially is she is experiencing extreme stress.

There are also different types of stress that we can either manage poorly or learn how to manage so that the effects on our lives are minimized.

Stress can come in different types including physical stress such as the stress felt on the body, emotions and mental state of a person when the body experiences an amputation. There is mental stress when a person suffers the loss of a job due to negligence on his/her part and then there is emotional stress such as when a marriage dissolves.

Stress can result from change such as a move, retirement, divorce or climate change. All of these changes can create stress that requires management in order to not adversely affect the individual’s well-being.

Stress and our ability to manage it or not seems to be closely tied to physiological process that the body undergoes when there is a response to the presence of stress. The body makes a physical response in the form of several things including withdrawing most of the body from the largest organ of the body, the skin and redirecting it to the legs in preparation for possible flight and in circulating blood to a more rapidly beating heart.

The body also increases respirations so that the person breathes more rapidly and more deeply so that the muscles of the legs have the required oxygen to function for possible long sprints. The pulse rate will increase and the body will sweat more as a way to cool off from a long run.

These physiological processes the body goes through during the response to stress can trigger sympathetic nervous system decline if the stress that we are experiencing is of a long-term nature. This reaction by the sympathetic nervous system can equate to a hormone, corticosteroid to be produced in larger quantities.

The result of increased corticosteroid is an increase in appetite, which will then allow the individual to gain weight. Many diseases are related to obesity or being overweight that the connection is important between long-term stress and illness.

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Several risk factors for the disease has been identified, one of which is high cholesterol levels. There may also be a genetic component since people in families with Alzheimers have a higher risk of developing the disease themselves.

The literature on pain management for people who suffer from Alzheimer’s is slowly gaining ground. There continues to be a need for more research into the treatment of pain to improve the comfort of these patients as well as the quality of their life.

Because the majority of those who are suffering from Alzheimers disease are elderly some of the same criteria for treatment are used as those for the geriatric patient. Providing effective control in the elderly is a challenge to health care professionals for a variety of reasons.

The elderly patient who suffers from Alzheimer’s may also suffer from a physical condition that causes a significant amount of discomfort, such as arthritis or joint disease. Pain is a common concern among older Americans it affects more than 33 million who are older than 65 years. Other studies have shown that 62% of people living in nursing homes have pain and that the range of those living in the community who suffer with pain ranges between 25% and 50%. The difference in these numbers proves that pain is under treated and under diagnosed in the elderly.

The American Medical Directors Association has defined pain as an individuals unpleasant sensory or emotional experience that is recurrent or persistent. There are different types of pain as well. A person will perceive the pain of a toothache, muscle strain or deep incision from surgery as totally different. An medications or more natural approaches should address the type of pain as well as the source.

Care givers have found that there are barriers to pain management in the elderly population that include but are not limited to: Some believe that pain is an inevitable part of aging that is unavoidable, that pain indicate that death is near, that pain is a punishment for past sins, or that pain could be an indication of a serious illness. These beliefs of the older adult population is complicated by the belief that complaints of pain could result in expensive tests or the loss of independence.

There are several approaches to pain management in the elderly that include medication or a more natural approach. Pain medications or other approaches should always address the source of the pain and not try to blanket the pain, unless the pain is caused by a terminal illness that cant be adequately addressed.

Medications that are popular are Acetaminophen, Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory medications, COX-2 inhibitors, and opiods. Each of these classes of medications have their pros and cons carrying side effects and drug interactions with other medications the individual may be taking.

There is also a benefit to trying alternative methods of pain relief if you are certain that you can ascertain if the patient has reached adequate pain relief. When a person with Alzheimer’s disease has reached the latter stages of their disease they are often unable to communicate verbally. If there is a caregiver who is able to read this individuals body language appropriately more holistic approaches may be attempted.

Most people find relief from their pain in joints when the problem is addressed through physical therapy. This particular method is next to impossible with those in the latter stages of their disease. Acupuncture is another option that works well for those who dont have a great deal of range of motion or may be unable to participate in the healing process.

Exercise, stress management, diet and dietary supplements (to correct nutritional imbalances that can increase the perception of pain) and Bioelectric therapy round out the options for the elderly population but arent as effective in patients who are unable to participate in their care.

MemoRise assists with cognitive functioning, improves memory, concentration and attention span, helps prevent hardening of the arteries and reduces the risk of stroke or heart attack, improves heart functioning-especially irregular heart beat, achieves healthy circulation and assist with hemorrhoids, varicose veins and chilblains.

MemoRise also reduces the symptoms of dementia in Alzheimer’s Disease.  Scientifically shown to improve memory loss linked to aging which can lead to improved cognitive functioning and a ‘sharper’ mind. Recommended for mature minds to improve memory and blood flow to the brain and as a general tonic Formulated by a clinical psychologist, MemoRise is pharmaceutically manufactured to the highest standards and is safe and effective.

Fear isn’t uncommon. When the body feels fear it triggers a fight or flight response by releasing hormones which cause the heart and blood pressure to rise, blood to be rerouted from the stomach and internal organs to the limbs, respirations increase and senses are heightened.

When this fear is consistent and prevents or restricts a person from doing something it becomes a phobia. There are two specific types of anxiety phobia disorders. There are specific phobias and social phobias.

Specific phobias are the result of a life experience and other biological factors. It is the fear of a certain type of activity or thing. For instance a person can develop a phobia of germs, blood, bugs, flying, driving, heights or any other situation or thing.

There are over 19 million people who suffer from specific phobias. Interestingly this condition happens twice as often in women as in men. Many of the specific phobias begin in childhood and can be a result of a traumatic event, or what is perceived as a traumatic event.

The other type of anxiety phobia disorder is a social phobia. These are the result of being in situations that deal with performance and social activities. This is also sometimes known as social anxiety disorder. These social phobias affect of 15 million people. In this instance both men and women are affected equally and again start in childhood.

A person with a social phobia is fearful of being judged by others. Things like public speaking can cause the person suffering from a social phobia to feel nauseated, tremors, rapid heartbeat and begin to sweat profusely. Some other common fears are eating in front of people for fear they will choke or cause a type of embarrassment.

There are those unfortunate few who suffer from both anxiety phobia disorders specific and social phobias. They will go to great extremes to avoid being put into a social situation that will cause them anxiety. As with other mental disorders people suffering from anxiety phobia disorders will avoid seeking help.

If the person seeks help from their primary care physician they will probably find that they are referred to a psychologist, psychotherapist or psychiatrist who can offer counseling and medication to help treat the disorder. Treatment can also consist of behavioral modification, family counseling, individual counseling, group support and stress management.

With the proper support medically, psychologically and emotionally people with anxiety phobia disorders are often able to learn to control their fears so they are well equipped to handle situations and events. This leads them to a more normal and productive life.

MindSoothe is a specially formulated herbal remedy that has been successfully used in the treatment of Depression, Insomnia, OCD, SAD, Panic Disorder, and Anxiety. Being natural, with no artificial preservatives, MindSoothe is safe for adults and children (also see MindSootheJr. for children), is non-addictive and has NO SIDE EFFECTS.

It has become the formula of choice by thousands of satisfied customers around the world for treating depression, insomnia, anxiety, ODD and more. MindSoothe is pharmaceutically manufactured to the highest standards and was formulated by a Clinical Psychologist.

There are some interesting facts about Anxiety Disorders that help people to understand how they are classified and how they are diagnosed. For instance, women are more prone than men to have anxiety and depression. Although men are affected by these disorders there are twice as many women who are diagnosed and treated. Some physicians theorize that the numbers may be closer but that men are more reluctant to express their complaints to their physicians.

The percentage of men in the general population who are diagnosed with anxiety disorders is close to 25% while the percentage in women is closer to 75%. These percentages represent all of the anxiety disorders and not just attacks or panic attacks.

Some of the signs and symptoms of anxiety panic disorders are related to the neurotransmitter serotonin, which plays an important role in the expression of the symptoms of depression, anxiety and panic disorders.

Women have a higher number of serotonin receptors than men which may account for the higher percentage of women who are affected by anxiety. When the body is unable to produce the correct amount of neurotransmitters, or too much, a womans brain will be more greatly affected because of the higher number of receptors.

Also related to the number of receptors and the hormonal differences in the sexes is the difference in the way men and women react to the anti-anxiety and anti-depressant medication currently on the market.

The signs and symptoms of anxiety panic disorder will reach its fullest intensity within one to two minutes and can fade after just 20 minutes. Most panic attacks are completed within 30 45 minutes while anxiety attacks come on more slowly and last for longer periods up to several hours.

The initial diagnosis of a panic or anxiety disorder is most often in a persons 20s and 30s. It is uncommon for the first attack to happen in the teens or after 40. Even people who are thought to be emotionally well-adjusted are as prone to anxiety or panic attacks which increases the evidence that there is a biochemical reaction responsible for the disorder and that it isnt purely psychological.

The signs and symptoms of an anxiety panic disorder include chills, hot flashes, tingling in the hands or feet, and overwhelming sense of fear or anxiousness, chest pain, feeling like there is something in the throat, shaking, dizziness and nausea.

People who experience recurrent attacks may suffer several times a month with the subsequent attacks at the same severity and intensity as the first. It is even possible for someone to experience an attack awakening from a deep sleep.

One of the signs and symptoms of anxiety panic disorders that helps a psychologist to make a diagnosis is when people protect themselves by intentionally avoiding a situation that will provoke the symptoms.

Some researchers also believe that genetics plays a role in the development of the disorder since it appears to run in families. Treatment in the form of medications and counseling has been very successful in patients who are compliant with the recommendations.

PureCalm is a natural, safe and effective liquid herbal formula that works quickly to eliminate symptoms of tension, anxiety, stress, panic attacks and irritability.  PureCalm helps maintain balanced emotions during everyday pressure, stress and common nervous tension. Created by a clinical psychologist, this remedy is pharmaceutically manufactured to the highest standards, combining the soothing properties of Lemon Balm with those of Lavender and Passion Flower, to bring you relief within minutes! For those who suffer from chronic anxiety, PTSD and/or severe panic attacks, combine PureCalm with MindSoothe for effective long-term reduction of your symptoms.

Managing Stress and Anxiety – Stress eats away at your physical and psychological health. But here’s the good news: one recent study showed that medical students who learned some of the techniques used in this hypnosis program significantly reduced exam-time stress. And blood samples revealed that the students’ immune systems became stronger the more they practiced the techniques! The 2-CD set includes three hypnosis sessions: total relaxation, stress management, and anxiety management. Learn more about Managing Stress and Anxiety now!

Nobody is immune to having Bruxism. It happens in both children and adults. Bruxism is not a major medical concern like cancer but it can cause major damage to your teeth and mouth.

Teeth can become ground down and the enamel broken. Eventually, they can break and the end result is pain, earaches, mouth abrasions and problems with the jaw.

The exact cause of Bruxism has not yet been determined. Scientists have been able to pinpoint a variety of characteristics that people who suffer with Bruxism often have in common: Anger, diet, Anxiety, posture, aggressive or competitive personality or people with teeth that are not aligned correctly.

There are many options for treating Bruxism. The top three goals of any treatment plan should be: Stop the pain, not allow the teeth to become permanently damaged and to change the habits of clenching and grinding the teeth.

If someone has alerted you that you are clenching or grinding your teeth then the person to talk to would be your dentist. They will probably give you an insert to put in your mouth that prevents you from grinding your teeth together. You will be told to wear this whenever possible and most importantly at night.

Serious cases of Bruxism often requires surgery. Less serious cases can be treated with a medication such as a muscle relaxant or sleep aid. If you are looking to go with medication then make sure that you are aware of the side effects.

There are several alternative therapies that have worked really well for others with Bruxism symptoms. You can meditate, use biofeedback techniques, hypnosis or stress management techniques.

Herbal medicine has also worked well for others. St John’s Wort, Lavender, Melissa Officinalis and Passiflora Incarnata are all helpful in lowering your tension and as a result make it less likely that you will grind your teeth. Herbal teas also help a lot. Try a tea that has hops, lemon balm, passion flower and/or peppermint in it. They will help you relax and are good to use when you are feeling extra anxious. Talk with a homeopath to come up with a plan that will work best for you. Try to avoid caffeine because it tends to cause anxiety.

Some stressors that cause acute but short-lived stress are events such as being caught in a traffic jam, watching an unpleasant movie, deadline related work pressure or even the absence of work. Chronic stress caused due to a continued state of stress that refuses to go away.

Basically, stress is a matter of perception and therefore the manner in which one thinks about things and events is one of the biggest causes of stress. A stressor does not cause stress on its own. It is the manner in which it is perceived that causes the stress. It is thus impossible to conclusively predict accurately for all what the largest causes of stress may be.

For some people financial troubles are far more stressing than relationship problems while for others an unhappy spouse can cause more stress than an impending deadline at work.

The most common causes of stress are believed to be financial, workplace related, health issues, and domestic or relationship issues. But if we look deeply into each of these broad classifications, the basic cause in these too boils down to individual perception and the way one thinks.

One individual may be too happy to have lots of spare time at work while the other might complain about the same situation and fret about becoming redundant. Some people are stressed because they have too much to do while others would look at it as an opportunity to show their abilities.

Similarly, many people would rather limit their expenses or strive to excel and seek promotions rather than crib about their relatively lower compensation.

Health issues too are taken lightly by some and others take it as a part of existence and try to manage it without feeling too stressed about it. But there are still others that take small recurring colds as likely threats to life and fret about the consequences of such a problem.

The above really brings out the fact that almost everything has stress potential. This is because it is the thinking that causes stress and not the event. The reality is that stress or stress-free life is dependent upon how our brain interprets the data provided by our senses. “There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so” – Shakespeare

The fundamental truth is that we are all born equal and inborn intelligences do not differ as much as many would like to believe. The fact is that we use only a miniscule percentage of our brain’s capabilities and this is true of Einstein also.

If a person experiences anxiety while constantly thinking about a stressor, the stress response of ‘fight or flight’ is liable to remain activated for longer period of time. This can lead to physiological and psychological disorders.

Managing stress is the only option available for people who face such situations because potentially stressful events are beyond your control.

Shake away negativity and understand that it is easy to relieve stress if we really want to do so. A stress-free life is possible if by developing a habit of looking at the positive side of events.

Managing Stress and Anxiety – Stress eats away at your physical and psychological health. But here’s the good news: one recent study showed that medical students who learned some of the techniques used in this hypnosis program significantly reduced exam-time stress. And blood samples revealed that the students’ immune systems became stronger the more they practiced the techniques! The 2-CD set includes three hypnosis sessions: total relaxation, stress management, and anxiety management. Learn more about Managing Stress and Anxiety now!

Add 2 drops lavender, 1 drop ylang ylang and 2 drops petitgrain to 5 teaspoons of a massage oil base (or any plain base/carrier oil). to the massage base. Stir gently to mix and massage into body.