Feeling stressed and like everything is out of your control… here are a few things you can do!
After 2 years of lockdowns, fear, restrictions, working from home, home schooling, the stress and pressure and uncertainty. Things started easing and we see the return to some normality and life looking a little more like pre-covid times.
Then just as people started to take a deep breath and feel the tension fade...enter: international conflict, a war, and unprecedented flooding, bringing with it fear, uncertainty, destruction and devastation.
These are big emotionally charged and heavy events unfolding around us. You would be forgiven for thinking, 'we just cant catch a break'.
For each of us the level of impact both literally and figuratively may be different, but there is one commonality. Stress.
Feeling stressed out, overwhelmed, at the end of your tether, like your more snappy to those around you, feeling constantly on edge or on high alert. Or perhaps you are feeling more emotions, expressing them more or feeling sluggish and low on energy or finding it more difficult to get out of bed in the morning. Just to name a few.
Aside from often having us feel a little off and not quite like our selves stress brings about physiological changes and impacts our nervous system, our bodies and our minds, influencing our health and how we make our way through the days.
But we cant stop the war, undo the floods or pretend like the last 2 years didn't happen?
True. But we can adjust and do things differently to support ourselves.
So what can I do to reduce my stress?
Firstly, as we mentioned, we cannot always reduce the stressors, but rather work to reduce its impacts on us.
If you are feeling the effects of this tense world around us, then know, you arr not alone and you don't need to resign yourself to it or just wait for the day these things stop (spoiler.... There will almost always be something).
So where do I start?
Be Gentle. Nourishment. Connection. Support.
Be gentle on your body, your thoughts and those around you. I personally resonate with this quote.
“I know my life is better when I work from the assumption that everyone is doing the best they can.” – Brené Brown, Dare to Lead.
Be gentle with your consumption of media. This is a good time to tune in to how it feels when you are watching the news, scrolling through social media clips and updates on the tragedy, reading the newspapers and listen to the radio. If it has you feeling anxious, upset, angry, tense or powerless? Consider consuming less, perhaps allow yourself one time slot in the day to get updates and keep to this.
Nourishment:
This is a broad one and covers a few fundamentals:
1. Nourish your body with whole foods - as tempting or automatic as it can be, putting down those highly processed foods and sweets can go a long way to support the nervous system.
2. Look at where you might be relying on things like coffee and/ or alcohol to get you through, even things like exercise can be used in excess to help cope in times of stress.
3. So you have noticed some of these creep in, so what’s the big deal? With all three, they can further increase your stress hormones, can dysregulate blood sugar levels, disrupt sleep and keep you on the mouse wheel of elevated stress hormones.
Thanks for that, so what the heck do I do instead?
You may not be ready to go cold turkey but reducing your intake is a great place to start.
Swapping the coffee for a green tea/herbal tea, a chai latte or turmeric latter (no sweetener added please) or just water.
As for the alcohol, whether you start by reducing the number of days a week you have an alcoholic drink or the number of drinks had at each occasion you consume - Reduce. Swapping for sparking water with a little bitters and a slice of orange can give the ritual without the alcohol.
Lastly, often during time of stress swapping a session or two (depending on your activity levels) of your normal exercise for something more gentle and restorative, like yoga, low intensity workouts, swimming, gentle cycling are great ways to keep you moving, and nourish the body.
Connection:
Spend time around the people you love and that recharge you, over those who drain you. And as a nature lover, connecting to the earth underneath our feet - if possible spend 5 minutes barefoot or go for a walk on a beach or amount the trees, it could even be, enjoying lunch or a hot drink in the warmth of the sun.
And lastly, Support.
Many people are very good at being the duck on the pond, looking like we are gliding along with ease up top while the little feet are paddling like crazy underneath. This can look like the “I’m fine”, “Others have it worse or I’ve got it easy compared to others” when you know you’re feeling it too.
You don’t have to do it alone, so if you feel you want or need more support and guidance. Ask for help!
There is great strength in asking for what you need.
Every body is different and will likely need a unique combination. If you would like further support and think I may be the gal, you can book an appointment here.
If none of this feels enough, please also know there are services available to support you, such as Lifeline on 13 11 14 and Beyond Blue at https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ which has both phone and online chat support.
DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this article is for information purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. We recommend you consult with a GP or other healthcare professional before taking any action based on this article. While the author uses best endeavours to provide accurate and true content, we make no guarantees or promises regarding the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the information presented. If you rely on any information provided in this article, you do so at your own risk.