In general, stress is a normal physiological and psychological phenomenon. We may feel some stress when we’re studying for a big exam or when we have a big project to finish for work. Alternatively, athletes may feel high-stress during competition and training.
However, when stress persists for long stretches of time without stopping, we tend to suffer negative health consequences. Luckily, there are many different ways to relieve stress. In this article, we will review some of the best stress relief techniques and demonstrate how chiropractic care may be a huge help for any stress you are experiencing.
What are the Different Types of Stress?
In general, stress can be categorized in one of two ways: eustress and distress.
Eustress
Eustress is the term for “good stress”. This is the type of stress you may feel during a job interview or during exercise. Eustress gives you energy so that you can focus on the task at hand and move past the stressful situation with flying colors.
But while eustress is generally considered to be a good thing, even too much “good stress” can cause problems throughout the body.
Distress
Distress is what most people think of when they think of stress in general. Distress can be considered “bad stress”. This is the type of feeling a person experiences when they are grieving for long periods after the death of a loved one. They may be worried about how they will pay their bills or even go on living now that their loved one is gone.
For this reason, distress is rarely considered to be a good thing. Furthermore, too much of this type of stress can cause hair loss, weight gain, cognitive issues, and many other problems.
Ways of Dealing with Stress
For many reasons, people today are more stressed than they have ever been throughout history. Therefore, many different schools of thought have been developed indicating how best to deal with stress.
Meditation
Regardless of your religious inclinations, meditation is a great way to relieve stressful thoughts and feelings. In fact, meditation doesn’t even have to have a religious component; it can be as simple as sitting quietly and listening to your breath for a few minutes throughout the day.
Meditation has been shown to help significantly with stress.
Exercise
Participating in various forms of exercise releases endorphins and can be a big help for people who are feeling stressed. Best of all, you don’t even have to do very much exercise in order to reap the rewards. Something as simple as going for a short walk daily or riding your bike are great forms of exercise that can help you deal with stress.
Diet
The foods we eat can have a huge impact on our stress level. We need to eat a varied diet rich in nutrients in order to maintain optimal levels of health. If you’ve been feeling overly stressed and aren’t sure why, take a look at your kitchen cabinet and make sure you’re eating a good, balanced diet.
Chiropractic Care and Stress Relief
Chiropractic care and similar treatments are some of the most effective and immediate fixes for stress.
Chiropractors perform specific manipulations on the spine to ensure that these vital structures are performing optimally. These treatments allow nerve impulses to flow to and from their targets so that the body can relieve stress through its own, internal processes.
If you’ve been experiencing high levels of stress, and feel the need to de-stress come see us at At Last Chiropractic, your local go-to Lithia, FL chiropractor. We would love to help you today. Book your appointment now!
