How to Cope with Social and Societal Stress
We have talked a lot these past few months about the Stress response, about how it affects our bodies and our nervous system. It is a topic that is not going away very soon.
With the Elections coming up and all things Holiday starting soon with Halloween, it will most definitely add another layer to an already very challenging year.
I am so concerned about the long term effects that even when the stress is past many of us will still have memories of the stress stuck in our bodies. So, I am going to continue to check in and make sure you are taking care of yourself and your family members.
Stress for any length of time causes nutrient depletion no matter how well we eat. This is important to note and is often overlooked. When cortisol is high it causes inflammation, so the body in its wisdom wants to regulate the response. It does so by taking nutrients that would have been used elsewhere in the body to help calm the inflammation. Overtime you become depleted in key nutrients and you also lose your capacity to Detox effectively via the Liver, Kidney, Lymph, Bowel and the Skin.
Cortisol and Sleep
Beyond the stress response, cortisol also plays a role in your wake-sleep cycle and in maintaining serum glucose (blood sugar) levels. Cortisol levels should naturally peak in the morning between 6 am and 9 am, and be at their lowest from 11 pm and 1 am. As you are fasting overnight, cortisol levels begin to rise around 4 am in order to maintain blood glucose levels.
This is important information for you to know, because stress: High or Low Cortisol is often missed by conventional medicine.
It is not until things get worse and show up in other areas that seem unrelated are you given treatment.
So how do you know if you if you have any reserves, are running on fumes and on your way to burnout?
Here 10 signs and signals that you should pay attention to
- How long does it take to wake up in the morning and feel alert?
- Do you wake up anxious and wired
- Does your energy dip in the afternoon and you need a pick me up
- You have more and more food allergies and suffer from IBS
- You are sensitive to chemicals and smells
- Your appetite has changed
- You have a night time eating pattern
- You are thirsty and crave salt
- Your sleep is interrupted usually around 1-3am
- You wake up stiff and achy and it takes a while to get going
If you have more than 2 of these symptoms on a regular basis then, it is likely you are showing signs of an abnormal Cortisol Rhythm. It is time to pay attention to the signals your body is giving you.
What You Can Do to Support the Stress Response
What can you do and what nutrients can help support you while you make some needed lifestyle changes:
- You can do a Salivary at Home Hormone Test to check your CAR: Cortisol Awakening Response. This one marker can determine your resilience and flexibility to stress. It is also a good marker to see how you are coping with daily stressors.
- You can supplement with, Zinc, Magnesium, B Vitamins, Ashwaganda, Schisandra and Rhodiloa, and take a High Quality Fish oil… lots and lots of it. Check out our Mini Stress Test for more great information.
- You can add in Movement, Meditation and Mindset. These practices are hard to maintain over a lifetime however they are life saving. Good health takes Good Habits on a consistent basis.
- Express emotions. Have a good ole cry, have a good belly laugh, hug your love until you feel your body relax… Don’t do like me… act like a tough little soldier.
Stress can be good for us in lots of ways and we are not aspiring to be calm and at peace every minute. Being Well is about metabolic and emotional flexibility. Being Stuck in the Stress Response is what is bad for you.”
I hope this article added value and you found some ways to take action.
As always I am available for Virtual Consultations Via Zoom
Have a Healthy Week
PS. Mark your Calendars. Dec 5th 2020 and Jan 4th we are conducting our P10 and P21 Detox Programs.
Look out 2021! We are going to be ready for you!!!!
