Stress and anxiety are a primary cause of immune deficiency in our day and age. Simply put, your body cannot stay healthy if you are under constant pressure and stress. The human body was made to deal with the sort of stress and anxiety that people faced in a preindustrial world. When faced with high amounts of stress, the adrenal glands spurt adrenaline into the bloodstream, which switches the nervous system over to the action mode of the sympathetic branch of the body. This is known as the fight or flight mode and is a high-energy reaction. These high-energy reactions help to burn off the stimulative hormones that your body produces and then returns it back to normal. However, your body is not equipped to handle the kinds of stress that occurs in a modern world.

Today the same biochemical responses are triggered hundreds of times throughout out the day by frustrations in the office, marital strife, repressed rage, bad news on the TV, exposure to microwaves, abnormal electromagnetic fields, fear, alienation, peer pressures and other hazards of modern life. Instead of making high energy physical responses, we are taught to repress our rage, fear and other negative emotions provoked by stress, which does not burn off the powerful hormones.

These potent chemicals quickly break down into various toxic by-products that poison our systems, suppress immunity, and impede other vital functions. Under chronic stress, the body never has a chance to excrete these toxins thoroughly and restore proper balance in the essence of the body and spirit.

Stress is basically a sudden demand on the body to adapt. It preoccupies the entire human system whenever it strikes, engaging body, mind and energy in a vicious circle of tension and turmoil that has no escape.
Maintaining lower levels of stress and anxiety is crucial. High amounts of stress leave us more susceptible to disease and illness. In our fast track society, how do we deal with all the extra pressure?

There are many ways to deal with stress and pressure. The best way is to exercise it off! If you can’t go to the gym or take a brisk walk, then do something. If you’re at work, find an excuse to clean the office. If you’re at home, now might be a good time to mop the floors. (Mopping utilizes every major muscle group in the body.)

Heat is also a soothing relief for anxiety and stress. If you have access to a hot tub, sauna, or steam bath, use them. If not, simply taking a hot shower or holding a heating pad on tired neck muscles can be a great relief.

Other stress relievers are: 1) pet an animal which lowers blood pressure, 2) yell or scream which gets rid of pent-up emotions, 3) take antioxidants which helps guard your immunity, 4) do something nice for someone else which gives you warm fuzzies, 5) get your hair fixed or colored which helps boost self esteem, 6) read a book or meditate which helps takes your mind off your stress or 7) remember to laugh which helps you breathe more deeply.

It’s a fact that stress and anxiety are not going away. The more advanced societies become, the more pressure you’re going to feel. Be prepared for the extra pressure by knowing how to handle stress when it comes your way!

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