Guest Artist: This is Heal Reflexology
Written by Jessica Gunter, Founder of This is Heal Cheltenham
“Reflexology is very helpful in restoring balance and addressing both the root cause and symptoms you’re feeling: it isn't a foot rub or a nice treatment to have on a spa day. It's a powerful method of encouraging your body to heal itself, be it after sustaining an injury, after surgery, or when faced with pain, illness or disease.”
Stress management tips and ‘how to reduce stress’ articles are everywhere. Which, a little ironically, have made us view stress as something to get stressed over having: almost like an illness that we need to ensure we don’t get.
But we often overlook that stress is normal and inevitable. Our ancestors have all experienced stress, and future generations will do too.
It would be a major flaw of the human body if, when being chased by a big animal with huge teeth and a longing to have you for lunch, you simply sighed and thought ‘oh, never mind’. You need that stress response to react accordingly, and to allow you to leg it.
In modern, Western society, you’re more likely to experience other stressors than being chased by a scary animal. But actually, your system can’t distinguish between real stress or perceived stress, which is why that unpleasant email can cause an elevated heart rate, blood pressure and feelings of anxiety.
So, yes. Pretty clear that acute stressors can affect us.
But so can chronic, lower-level stressors which have a prolonged influence.
Chronic stress might be becoming a carer, divorce, death or illness of a loved one, combat stress or abuse for example.
Other less often considered chronic stressors include:
- a group or community who you don’t feel genuinely supported and respected by
- a job that doesn't fulfil you, or that involves being around people who bring you down
- fearing illness and pursuing health too aggressively
- pushing yourself too much
- feeling pressure to look a certain way, go to certain places, be friends with certain people or have certain cars, clothing or holidays for example.
These all have the ability to affect our systems negatively: evidence shows that cumulative exposure to regular, repeated negative stressors results in greater risk of age-related chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, as well as lowered cognitive function. It can also cause hormone imbalances, digestive issues and other problems besides.
Stress affects each of us differently because we have different genetic predispositions, different life experiences and different systemic strengths and weaknesses when we face something stressful. Therefore, how we manage stress will be as individual as we are. Some of you might find it helpful to track statistics and see what’s helping by using wearable devices for example, and for others, that might be another source of stress.
However, there are several methods of managing and building resilience to stress that are appropriate for everyone to try. These include:
Nurturing connections
Strengthen your close circle. There is evidence that building, nurturing and enjoying a strong community influences our reaction to stress.
Mindfulness
One of the current buzz words, but it’s actually really important. It’s about taking time to focus on the present, and temporarily blocking out any past or future concerns. My favourite form is meditation, and I recommend Headspace to lots of patients to teach and guide them on how to do this.
Sleep
This is a trickier one. Because stress, as I’m sure you’ll already be very aware, can negatively impact our sleep. However, taking steps to try and optimise the amount and quality of our sleep is important.
Regular physical activity
It can feel stress-relieving, but also mitigates stress-related chronic health issues.
Supporting your gut
When that grizzly beast is chasing you, your system doesn’t need to focus on digesting that meal you ate earlier. It needs to empower you to get as far away from this threat as quickly as possible. Your digestive system will be impacted when you face other sources of stress too. Equally, an impaired gut may make you more vulnerable to feelings of stress. So, it’s really important to do what you can to support it.
Have fun
You may well think ‘how on earth do you expect me to have fun when I feel so stressed?’ Valid question. Seemingly impossible, I know. But having fun and the act of play can lower your stress levels and make you feel more relaxed. It doesn’t need to last for hours: it can simply be whacking your favourite song on and throwing some crazy shapes across the kitchen. Or whatever tickles your fancy!
And remember: what works best for you may well be different to what helps your friend or family member. Take time to try different options!
Jess is a clinical reflexologist and wellbeing specialist in Cheltenham. She is offering all Blushes clients 20% off their Initial Consultations & Treatment with the code REFLEXOLOGY20.
