What is stress? How to combat it?
Stress is the body’s reaction to harmful situations — whether they’re real or perceived. When you feel threatened, a chemical reaction occurs in your body that allows you to act in a way to prevent injury. This reaction is known as “fight-or-flight,” or the stress response. During a stress response, your heart rate increases, breathing quickens, muscles tighten, and blood pressure rises. You’ve gotten ready to act. It is how you protect yourself. It is a natural body response that is essential for us in moderation to prevent long-term damage. Stress is everywhere. And while a little stress is OK — some stress is actually beneficial — too much stress can wear you down and make you sick, both mentally and physically. At times individuals find it difficult to cope with the ‘stress’ due to the piling up of negative reinforcements/ experiences which need to be dealt with urgently.
Symptoms of stress :
- Physical symptoms-
- Headache
- Chest pain and palpitations
- Low energy levels
- Nervousness/shaking
- Sexual dysfunction
- Tightening of muscles
- Infertility
- Obesity
2. Psychological symptoms-
- Racing thoughts.
- Poor concentration
- Constantly worrying
- Being pessimistic
3. Behavioral symptoms-
- Loss of appetite
- Increased use of alcohol, cigarettes, or drugs
- Procrastinating
- Insomnia/ Hypersomnia
How to combat it?
Increased mental stress is known to reduce healing in people recuperating from a disease or injury and often it results in prolonging the prognosis.
Panchakarma treatment of Shirodhara and Acupuncture helps to combat stress, and anxiety and accelerates the healing process effectively. These treatments have physical as well as psychological benefits.