At our wellness centre, we see so many people who, for one reason or another, find themselves feeling stressed, overwhelmed or anxious. In some ways it’s no surprise – modern life demands more and more of our attention. If you’re like me, when you have a spare moment, you’ll find yourself routinely checking your emails or your text messages or reading something on your phone. Never before have we had such easy access to information and stimulation.
The consequence?
We’ve trained ourselves to be switched on and to be ready to respond at all times. From a body/mind perspective, this means we are perpetually in action mode. Consider this: you could be lying in a hammock on a tropical island, sipping a cocktail, but if your mind is preoccupied with work or something stressful, your nervous system perceives it as if you were actually at work.
Generally speaking, we spend way too much time switched on and not nearly enough time unwinding and relaxing. Think about the modern athlete, who trains hard and competes with intensity, but also devotes significant time to recovery through stretching, massages, ice baths, and meditation.
Most of us are not getting enough recovery time. We have become really good at being switched on for long periods and really bad at switching off and deeply unwinding. If you push yourself through the day with low energy and high stress, finding you need to rely more and more on stimulants like sugar and caffeine to keep you going through the day, you will know what I’m talking about.
The solution?
First, recognise where you find yourself. If you are overwhelmed but just keeping your head above water, don’t wait to see whether life is going to get easier. If you’ve felt this way for a while, it probably won’t. If you’re already experiencing uncomfortable physical symptoms such as palpitations, sweating, panic episodes, and a feeling that you can no longer keep things under control, then you likely already have anxiety
To break the cycle, I suggest seeking professional help from someone who is going to offer not just short-term relief but longer-term holistic strategies. Psychologists and counsellors, for example, will give you a range of mind tools and education. A naturopath can give you herbs and supplements to reduce symptoms, build resilience and restore balance. Acupuncture will reset your nervous system, helping you access deep states of relaxation perhaps for the first time in a long time. A good remedial massage or pampering treatment creates a space and time where you can completely let go. Just remember coping doesn’t have to be your norm, for your health’s sake it’s time to take action.
Editor’s note: This wellbeing column provides information that is general in nature. Please always refer to your preferred health professional for advice suited to your personal healthcare requirements.
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