The Sustainable Way to Tame Stress

The Sustainable Way to Tame Stress: 3 Solutions for the Long Haul

To say that stress has become a common part of modern life would be an understatement. In simple terms, stress is the biochemical reaction that takes place in your brain when faced with a challenge. The American Psychological Association calls America a country grappling with collective trauma or stress. Instead of popping pills, consider a more sustainable way to tame stress.

The reasons are broad as well as personal, including global conflicts, inflation, work-related daily responsibilities, and more.  When you have a life event that you feel you can’t cope with, you’ll feel stressed.

It becomes a major problem when you feel like all hope is lost. Debilitating stress can negatively affect your physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being. Statista found that 24% of women and 11% of men took antidepressants in 2023. Stress, when left unchecked, is a real problem.

We believe that only sustainable solutions will work, targeting the issue at its roots. In this article, we will discuss three natural and healthy stress remedies for the long haul.

1. Limiting Intake of Certain Items

The World Health Organization (WHO) states that people cope with stress in different ways. Some may choose to look at the bright side of life. Others may find themselves drowning in pessimism unless the stressful situation reverses. Many resort to unhealthy habits like regular alcohol and tobacco use or even caffeine consumption.

For instance, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows a maximum of 400 milligrams of caffeine a day. When you drink more than that, there are consequences for your health. Since caffeine is a stimulant, it can trigger jitters or anxiety in the brain when consumed in large doses.

Why do people prefer to drink so much coffee? Most will say that it’s to stay awake longer or cope with stress. The same is true with alcohol and tobacco – they may seem to help for a while, but they inevitably lead to greater or extreme consumption.

And then, your brain needs more each time to achieve the same degree of calmness. And so you become dependent or addicted. Which leads to more stress.

To avoid this vicious cycle, it is important to limit your intake of caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol.

There may be severe to moderate withdrawal symptoms initially, but your stress will reduce in the long run.

2. Massage Therapy

Stress may be a psychological phenomenon but its effects can be seen on your physical body. For example, when you’re feeling stressed, your muscles and soft tissues tighten up. This can lead to lower blood circulation, pain, and tightness.

Deep tissue massage therapy can help in such cases. Let’s understand using an example of the musically-driven city of Austin in Texas. Though the city’s folks strive to keep stress at bay, they still belong to a state that is currently rated high in terms of stress.

Plus, there has been a slight increase in Austin’s unemployment rate as of June 2024. The present shift may seem negligible but it does raise concerns as to what the future holds. It’s usually only a matter of time before such things take a toll on people’s health through constant stress. This can be kept at arm’s length with a reliable massage therapy in Austin.

It is undoubtedly a form of self-care that goes beyond makeup removers and cucumber waters. According to Mantis Massage, a better term would be corrective deep tissue massage, because any aches and pains life incurs on the body can be rectified.

So, coming back to our example, how would an Austin resident who has been brooding over their personal stress, benefit from a corrective deep tissue massage? Let’s look at it in detail.

Calmness and Clear-Headedness – Stress can often raise your blood pressure. Your body has detected a source of danger (real or perceived0, and remains in a fight or flight mode. Sometimes, simply trying to think positive thoughts doesn’t help. A deep tissue massage pushes the body into a mode where it must stay calm and collected. This enables you to think logically and analytically about your situation, instead of reacting emotionally.

Body Influencing the Mind – Though stress is largely psychological, it is also physical to a certain extent. (If it weren’t, you’d think but not act to relieve your stress). The most important thing is that it is supposed to be a temporary response. Often, we keep it alive by overthinking things. So, suppose you just got laid off due to the rising unemployment rate in Austin. The stress you may feel indicates a crisis for which the solution is to send in job applications, hone your resume skills, and more. Or you might resort to a defeated mindset that spirals into a vicious cycle of never-ending stress. If that’s the case, then corrective deep tissue massage in Austin is a good option. As massage calms your body, so it will also influence your mind to calm down as well.

Distraction from the Outside World – Just like your body can influence your mind, your mind also influences your body. When the massage disengages your mind for a little while from the stress, your body slips into a state of relaxation. As a result, your stress response will be reduced. If you use this time to dwell on positive reinforcements, your calm mind will lead the way to a calm body. The vicious cycle will now turn into a healthful one.

3. Prioritizing Sound Sleep is a Sustainable Way to Tame Stress

Since we live in the age of the conscious consumer, many people are opting for nutrient-dense diets and organic ingredients. This is great – but if you don’t also get a good night’s sleep, it may not work in reducing stress in the long haul.

There are numerous reasons why sleep seems to have eluded modern society. Smartphones and other devices emitting the dreaded blue light are undoubtedly first on that list. They are altering the circadian rhythm or day and night bio-clock hardwired into every human body. Constant scrolling through social media can result in depression and an over-active brain, which also reduces your chances of a good night’s sleep.

It’s no wonder that people are wide awake at night and dozing off during the daytime. Studies have sadly found that nearly 18% of American adults cannot sleep at night without consuming sleeping pills.

People who don’t sleep well at night are often exhausted, moody, drained, and stressed out, and often find it difficult to think clearly or concentrate.

Sound sleep at night can help reduce stress significantly. Here are some tips to help you sleep better.

Practice Thought Management – It is important to take control of your thoughts – they run your life. Dr. Terrence Z. Johnson, the co-founder of iProgress, states that every day is an opportunity for growth. Life can be wholly different when you remember the simple truth that tomorrow can be better than today. But gaining mastery over your thoughts can be challenging. You may need professional help through counseling, or breathing exercises, self-compassion, and mindful meditation may help. These methods may not be as tangible and easy as popping some pills, but they’re undoubtedly effective when done right and consistently.

Create and Stick to a Schedule – A consistent bedtime routine is a must for adults too, not just children. This is precisely why some people wake up at around the same time automatically without the need for an alarm. The human body has an in-built clock that will take care of rest, healing, and waking time when maintained properly. It may be very challenging initially because your body is accustomed to having a haphazard routine. Give it a few weeks and you will notice undeniable change.

Say ‘No’ to Technology – Avoid tech usage at least two hours before going to bed. The blue light from the various devices (even when there’s a screen guard) disrupts your bio-clock and keeps your body awake and your brain active. For example, you may go to sleep early but end up tossing and turning in bed because of the blue light’s effects. When you stop using tech a couple of hours before sleeping, your body gets the signal that it’s time to shut down for the day.

In addition to the three major sustainable ways to tackle stress mentioned above, another is aromatherapy. There may not be concrete scientific studies conducted in this regard but many people claim to find relief. The Cleveland Clinic shares that essential oils release their molecules which are then inhaled and cause your brain to send calming hormones around your body. .

With time, it may get easier to regulate emotions. Stress may be common but don’t rely on quick, short-term remedies. Choose the road of sustainability to enjoy good health for years to come.

Please Share this post with your friends and family –  it’s easy – sharing buttons below!

What do you think? Let me know in the comments below.

Warm regards,