WHAT IS STRESSING YOU OUT?
WHAT EMOTIONS ARE IN YOUR BODY THAT YOU ARE IGNORING OR DON’T WANT TO FEEL?
HOW CAN YOU CONNECT MORE WITH YOUR BODY?
Do you know Stress can weakens your immunity. Stress is beneficial in the short-term and can be a huge motivational tool. But, when we’re spending the majority of our time feeling stressed. That’s when the damage starts happening. Stress is now a chronic thing. While stress is a normal physical response, chronic stress is damaging to the body in the long run.
Before starting let's understand some science of it. The Autonomic Nervous System (ANS), The part of the nervous system that takes care of breathing, digesting, balancing hormones, organ control…etc. Anything that you don’t consciously influence is regulated by the ANS.
The sympathetic nervous system is the part of the ANS that kicks in during times of stress to help your body fight through it.
Imagine being chased by a lion! You need that stress response for your survival. After the event has passed, your body is back to its normal state. However, when stress is chronic, your body doesn’t know the difference between work stress, financial stress, chronic pain stress, family/relative stress, and ‘running away from a lion – stress’. The response is all the same.
One thing to keep in mind is that the other part of the autonomic nervous system that is responsible for regeneration, and recovery (and healing) is called the parasympathetic nervous system, and it’s mostly shut down because we are on a stress dominant mode.
Our body’s ability to heal, recover, and regenerate properly is suppressed during chronic stress.
This is very important to know and be mindful of. It is your duty to make rest a priority especially during times when you know you’re stressed to help balance your nervous system.
Turning on the healing and recovery switch can be easy. It just demands some practice and more self-awareness
STEPS TO RELEASE STRESS FROM THE BODY
This quick technique will not only release stress from the body but will help you tap into the parasympathetic nervous system.
1-Connect With Your Body
Sit comfortably and start by placing your hands on your belly and start taking deep breaths. You connect more with your body through touch.
2-Tune Into Feeling And Sensations
•Start scanning each area of your body starting from your feet.
•Sometimes, just tuning in will make you feel all the feelings you weren’t aware of a minute ago.
•You may notice how you’re holding your breath…how your shoulders are tense…how you’re holding your posture. It’s all good. Just be aware of these things.
•Whenever you feel an area that feels tense… pause and connect with it, this is usually where you are experiencing the stress response.
•Start noticing how those areas feel with the current stress response. You just want to observe here and notice if any emotions come up.
This is your first step to focusing back on the body and giving it your full attention.
3- Be Present
Focus your mind on the present only, forget past and future. Focus on each cells of your body and breathe into it. Just observe and be present with it.
4- Follow the breath
By now you will notice that your body is starting to relax naturally. Your shoulders may drop and relax.
You start feeling a sense of calm and peace. You can place your hands on those areas that felt very tense earlier to tune into them a little more (if you can reach them).
Recognize that this is where the stress response happens in the body. Every time you have a stressful moment, you’ll become more aware of it.
5. Slow down your breath
To reach a deeper state of relaxation slow down the exhales. Count to 6 every time you exhale. It will activate your parasympathetic nervous system, and start healing your body.
