We are all under stress the majority of the time and a lot of people like to think that they understand stress and can use it to get a piece of work done to the best of their ability, but do you really know what the symptoms of stress are and what it can do to your body? When we are piling the stress onto ourselves, we just assume that our bodies will adapt and get on with it, but is that actually true?

The fact is that we all have our own point at which stress is reasonable. This is because stress can be emotional, physical and mental and if you go beyond your capacity for any length of time in any of these fields, you can cause short-term or even longer term harm, which could require professional medical help.

If you do not take measures to recover your equilibrium, you will soon find that the apposite role in your life will deteriorate: that is, your relationships will fail, your physical health will crumble or your ability to do your job in the right manner will vanish.

The physical indications of stress are aches and pains, including headaches, general tiredness and lethargy. Unchecked, these symptoms can lead to migraine, muscle tension and stiffness.

These prime alterations to how your body operates can then result in other issues such as diarrhea or constipation, nausea and dizziness. These symptoms of stress, in turn, can lead to sleepless nights or insomnia.

When it gets this bad, individuals normally turn to medication, but medication can merely give temporary relief such as sleeping tablets. This can lead to dependence.

If the sufferer already has a weak heart, this combination of indications of stress can lead to chest pains, palpitations and erratic heart beat, which in turn can be precursors of heart disease. Please note that this chain of activities is not guaranteed.

People are different and some doctors are better than others, but stress and heart disease have been shown to be connected.

Symptoms of stress can also show themselves in behavioural problems. These indications of stress frequently begin with insomnia or only problems getting to sleep and waking up still tired. However, feeling continually dog-tired has a knock-on impact on our emotions – we tend to become more emotional, but usually in a negative way. Often this means over-reacting, like snapping at someone who has asked a perfectly reasonable question.

This sort of response can lead to the sufferer shunning society. Self-pity, isolation, loss of job and depression can soon follow.

So, you have to learn how to get off that slippery slope, the downward spiral of everyday stress. The place to begin is the mind. You need to learn how to recognize that ‘things are getting on top of you’ and learn how to unwind.

There are several successful techniques including meditation, breathing exercises, aromatherapy and playing soothing music in order to bring about a condition of relaxation in your mind.

When you are learning to take the symptoms of stress head-on with your mind, take some time to pamper your body too. There are also numerous ways of doing this, but popular methods are taking a sauna or having a massage or pedicure, facial or manicure. Having your hair done.

Physical exercise is a great reliever of stress as well and it does not have to be arduous. A thirty minute walk, two times a day is sufficient for most people, but you might grow to like it and then it is the more the better.

Finally, you could take a good look at your diet. You do not have to go overboard, but do you drink too much coke, coffee or tea? Do you consume a lot of rubbish? Are you getting enough fruit?

Only we are responsible for our thought processes, either negative or positive. If we lock into our thought processes that we strongly believe something about us or the way we are then we will no doubt become it. Whoever controls the belief, controls the action. Start by accepting who you are. What is important is that we are doing what we want to do and being who we want to be.

Negative judgments about ourself can limit our own development. There are a multitude of possibilities for everyone to learn and develop themselves through further education. Are you sitting waiting for something different and exciting to land in your lap? Why not start this year by motivating yourself to get out there and look at what is available for you.

by Marita Reynolds

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder where the body is unable to regulate blood sugar levels properly.

We use sugar as energy fuel for our bodies. So when a person with diabetes is unable to use sugar energy over a period of time the high sugar levels can damage blood vessels and nerves.

There are 2 types of Diabetes. Type 1 is usually apparent in childhood or adolescence and relates to approximately 10-15% of the cases.

Type 2 diabetes presents itself later in life and is related to lifestyle and is more common and relates to approximately 80-85% of cases.

If type 2 diabetes is left untreated or unmanaged complications with in the body due to poor circulation from damaged blood vessels and nerves can occur resulting in heart disease such as heart attack and stroke, kidney disease, eye problems such as Diabetic Retinopathy causing blindness or visual impairment and leg and feet problems often resulting in loss of these limbs due to poor blood supply.

So what can you do to help yourself avoid Diabetes or if you have Diabetes how to manage it? There are many people that can help.  However people with diabetes should be aware of the importance of maintaining good health care. Keeping blood sugar levels to a maintenance level recommended by your health care professional. A regular attendance to the podiatrist to check that circulation to the feet and that proper footwear is maintained. A session with Diabetic Advisor and a dietician to check that your diet is working for you is also important.

How can reflexology help, Reflexology is a non-invasive therapy. The Reflexologist uses a combination of gentle stretching and massage techniques on the reflex points on the feet and hands to promote circulation to ALL body parts. This will help the to boost lymphatic function and help to improve the immune system helping to reduce the risk of infection which may lead to ulceration on the legs and feet which may result in possible loss of the limb. Reflexology can also help to reduce the risk of complications such as heart disease, stroke and diabetic neuropathy.

An initial 1-hour session is recommended where we work the feet and discuss how best we can promote improved circulation by using regular reflexology.

I have just completed reading a book written by Eunice Ingham Stopfel, the book was titled “Stories the feet have told”. Eunice was the founder and developer of the Ingham method of Reflexology. This was the method of reflexology that I had been trained in. There was a quaint phrase in the book that I think says it all.

“ If you’re feeling out of kilter,

Don’t know why or what about.

Let your feet reveal the answer find the sore spot and work it out.”

This describes perfectly how the reflexologist works. Looking at your whole body system and in conjunction with the client looking for areas of sensitivity and congestion indicating lack of circulation in the area. It’s particularly important that we look at the glands (our Endocrine system) and how it is functioning. It’s often where much of the story can be told as congestion in one gland may indicate where the health problem is coming from. Once discovered, the reflexologist can work this area to improve circulation and therefore function to that part of the body.

Depending on the individual and their health concern or concerns and how the client relates to the reflexology will depend on how effective the treatment will be. It is important to know that you will need to allow 4-6 appointments and then review your progress from there.

Our feet are our support system, yet we rarely associate our feet with other areas of our body. Often we look at a localised area where we feel pain or discomfort. We concentrate on that area thinking that is where problem is. However by looking at the whole body and parts of the body that are not functioning correctly, we can assist the body to get back in balance, helping to restore normal flow, and allow the body to  heal itself.

If your reflexes are under pressure hence the related body part will be experiencing it. The feet and your body are telling you a story, indicating that something is happening.

Don’t ignore it, let a reflexologist find the sore spot and help you work it out

One of the things that we have to contend with as a result of life in modern times is stress. Most of us suffer from stress for one reason or another. As a result, it has a very large impact on our bodies, emotions and minds.

When you are feeling stress or are worn out by from a rough day it is best to just relax.

A very large percentage of the population will choose to watch television for their relaxation. This is not recommended by experts. Watching TV does not create a relaxing atmosphere. It just delivers a huge amount of commercials, sounds and pictures. So what is a good way to achieve relaxation? If there are hundreds of ways to become stressed, there must also be many ways to relax.

Recent research has shown that heart disease is sometimes a result of anger and irritability. And these are primarily linked to mental stress. If we allow too much stress in our lives, this can lead to or cause a heart attack. The management of your anger and attitude is a major factor of heart health. Managing your relaxation can help reduce stress.

Along with lowering blood pressure and reducing the possibility of a stroke or a heart attack, one needs to reduce stress because it produces hormones that will suppress the immune system. This will increase the possibility of disease. (Some say that illness is just that, the absence of relaxation or dis-ease). By relaxing, you give the immune system assistance in recovering and help it to function properly.

Here are a number of ways to reduce increase your relaxation and reduce stress.

1. Transcendental meditation: Research has recently shown that this may be a way to reduce artery blockage, a major cause for heart attack and stroke. The practice of transcendental meditation is done by repeating soothing sounds while meditating. This will help achieve total relaxation. The research indicated that those that practiced transcendental meditation reduced the thickness of their arterial wall as compared to those who didn’t practice this form of relaxation.

2. Acupuncture: Another way to reduce high blood pressure, acupuncture initiats many body functions in the brain to release chemical compounds known as endorphins. These chemicals help relax muscles, reduce panic, ease pain, and help with anxiety.

3. Yoga: Known to produce effects similar to acupuncture, yoga is a good tool for relaxation. One study subjected participants to many minutes of mental stress. They were then they were exposed to various relaxation techniques. These included listening to nature sounds or classical music. The subjects who did Yoga had their blood pressure return to normal faster than the others.

4. Breathing: This is one of the easiest methods to use for relaxation. This influences almost every area of the body. It can affect our thought processes, our mood swings, and our physiology. If you will simply focus on your breathing, and block out other thoughts, you will soon be able to begin to relax.

5. Exercise: It is said that “to change emotion, use a motion”. A good way to reduce irritation is to perform about 30 minutes of solid exercise. This can include anything from simple walking to strenuous exercise and will normally settle things down.

6. Massage: A great way to get focused relaxation, is to get a massage from a professional massage therapist. These individuals are trained to help relax the body.

I have mentioned just a few of the many ways to relax. Basically, anything that will allow you to slow down and reduce stress will be good for your heart and your health.

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It has been well documented that learning meditation techniques can reduce the pain associated with chronic and acute conditions. The body has a naturally inclined method of response to pain, as does the mind. With the strong connection to the mind, the body, and the spirit that pain can interrupt, learning meditation is a viable practice for pain management.

Learning meditation doesn’t mean that you become a mystical healer and cure some of the most painful conditions with just your mind, but why limit your possibilities? You can take the process of learning meditation to extend your connection with your body and develop a stronger connection with your spirit, which is healthy no matter how you look at it.

Our body has interesting reactions to pain, the fear of pain, and the fear of loss that can come with pain. Pain can manifest itself any time, any place, sometimes without warning. Illness is one of the most frightening aspects of life we can deal with and learning meditation can help ease the emotional responses that trigger other physical responses.

On a smaller scale you body can react to all kind of pain with this same visceral reaction. Meditation can help you tune into those reactions, calm them, and help the muscles surrounding the pain loosen and relax some. This will automatically help your pain relax a bit.

Some people can get so good at tuning into their body through meditation that they can feel the smallest of adjustments and know immediately whether it was the right one to make. They can feel vertebrates move back and forth, ligaments stretch, and some say they can even feel their bones heal.

It might not be the easiest journey, but those things that are truly worth it are rarely easy or simple. It takes a certain amount of self intuitive behavior to learn how to live ultimately healthy. This is what learning meditation can help you do.

As we make our way through life, we can often accumulate negative emotional baggage. Our subconscious mind will store many of our experiences in order to protect us from future harm. Imagine that from birth, everything that happens to us is written down internally on our Script. This script has no other function other than to keep you alive and to protect you from danger.

Every experience you have ever had will be stored on your script, some of which will be good, but mostly, bad experiences tend to be stored, along with every time anyone has insulted you etc. Your inner script is very powerful and if you let it, it will rule the decisions you make for the rest of your life. Your script is the reason behind low self esteem as it holds on to every bad experience you’ve had rather than remembering the positive.

Do you know any babies with low self esteem? Of course not, it is something that builds throughout life based on the outcomes of our negative experiences.

Would you choose to remember a criticism or a complement? Of course we would choose to remember a compliment, but we dont have a choice in the matter while we let our scripts control us. Our minds hold on to the negative things that have been said about us and it can become fairly depressing.

The good news is that you are not your script, you are not the sum of your past experiences as many people think. You are separate from your script and do not have to follow its misguided instruction. It is possible to separate yourself from your script, to operate without referring to it. You can free yourself from the constraints that your script incurs, doing so will change your life.

There are many self-help programs around, but most of them only last for the duration of your payments. Freeing yourself from your script is a life-long change that will make you believe in yourself as you never have done before.

A method for ‘activating the healing powers of the body’, modern Reflexology is both a science and an art. As a science, it requires careful study, practice, technical knowledge, and skill. As a healing art, Reflexology works best when the therapist works with patience, dedication, intention, and (most importantly) loving care. Frequently, therapeutic grade essential oils are used on the reflex points — however Reflexology is not a ‘foot massage’. Reflexology does not diagnose or treat specific diseases. Though when combined with sound healing practices, reflexology can facilitate the body’s strong natural impulse towards health and well-being.

There are numerous ‘reflex’ sites found on the soles of the feet and the palms of the hands that relate to the different energy pathways in the body and consequently reflect the overall well-being of the whole organism. Reflexology works with these energy pathways to assist and revitalize the bodies natural healing mechanisms. Through the proficient stimulation of the various reflex points, particularly with the application of balancing, energizing, or calming essential oils, Reflexology can assist in revitalizing the energy pathways of the body. As the subtle energy pathways are brought into balance, the body is able to returns to its natural rhythms. As energy flows, the entire organism is brought back into alignment. Essential oils can impart their powerful healing action here: Oils have the potential to be relaxing, aligning, stimulating, balancing and more. The best therapists will have a wide selection in their ‘toolkit’, and listen to their intuition to chose the most effective oil for each reflex point.

There are many benefits of receiving regular Reflexology sessions including the reduction of stress by inducing deep relaxation. During the session, the body and nervous system are allowed to deeply rest and consequently functions in a more balanced state. As a result, the body moves toward homeostasis and healing can take effect. A fantastic study conducted on soldiers in Israel found that reflexology benefited these ‘soldiers (who were) suffering from post traumatic stress disorder, providing temporary relief from symptoms including anger, depression, and muscle tension. The soldiers who received weekly reflexology treatments also experienced improved sleep patterns, levels of concentration, and an overall lift in mood.’ (Reflexology on the Front Lines of Health Care’, Massage Magazine, November/December 1998). Using a few drops of therapeutic grade Lavender essential oil is an excellent choice for decreasing stress and facilitating relaxation. In addition, Frankincense, Roman Chamomile, and Rose essential oil, are all lovely choices for encouraging relaxation. Choosing the best oil and application location is as easy as listening to your ‘inner guide’. Move slowly, while holding the greatest healing intention, allowing yourself to use the most effective oils on the reflex points which are naturally calling for them.

Reflexology can also assist in the cleansing and purification of toxic energy, the revitalization of vigor, and the balance and integration of the natural rhythms of the body. Gravity pulls toxins downward to the feet therefore reflexology is a natural tool for helping to clear this old energy. A skilled reflexologist can pull these impurities from the feet using both proper massage techniques and cleansing, detoxifying essential oils.

Soaking the feet in epsom salts with a few drops of essential oils can help to facilitate the release of old energy – this can be done at the completion of a session, or in between sessions. This is a very healing therapy that is safe for elderly, pregnant, and children. Use one-quarter to one-half cup of epsom salts in warm water. Add in three to four drops of essential oils and relax for half an hour. Foot baths are wonderful for those who have been ill or are exhausted. Aromatherapy baths are generally considered safe as long as the essential oils are properly dispersed throughout the water – the essential oils can be diluted in a carrier oil before pouring into the foot bath. Grapefruit, Geranium, and Juniper are all wonderful essential oils for detoxification, and can be used at the same time as oils for relaxation, such as Lavender, Sandalwood or Ylang Ylang.

Reflexology stimulates and encourages blood flow to the feet thus helping to nourish all the extremities of the body. Studies have shown that Spruce essential oil is an excellent choice for those with poor circulation. Spruce is non-toxic and non-irritating.Ylang Ylang Sweet Marjoram, and Lavender essential oil have been found to reduce blood pressure. Further, Reflexology is an excellent way to revitalize energy. Low energy levels are often due to accumulations of toxins and energy blockages. Once those are released, uplifting essential oils can be used to restore natural vital energy balance. Bergamot oil is excellent for this, and is the foremost ‘natural anti-depressant’ essential oil. Rosemary is also very uplifting and energizing; other oils can be uplifting and calming at the same time; Black Spruce and Pine (Pinus kessia) are particularly suited for this.

Reflexology balances and integrates the body. As energy pathways are opened, strengthened, and brought into balance, the body returns to its natural rhythms. Energy flows. The body, mind, and spirit are brought back into balance. Rose essential oil is a wonderful oil for balancing and integrating the energy pathways of the body. Facilitate this healing by gently anointing your clients/friends feet with Rose and allowing them to bask in the high vibration healing of this beautiful flower. Ylang Ylang essential oil is also lovely for balancing one’s masculine and feminine energies. Note that with all the essential oils, just the smallest amount is necessary to impart their profound healing action; the strength of the aromas should be gentle and pleasant at all times.

The practice of reflexology nourishes both the practitioner and the client. When healing occurs, both experience a sense of well-being. This well-being can carry into other areas of the clients and practitioners life and the benefit extends out into the world. Reflexology is profoundly helpful tool in assisting oneself as a practitioner, and one’s client, in becoming vibrantly healthy.

The author has made available much information about aromatherapy, such as using patchouli essential oil and other wholesale essential oils.

Guided meditation is a form of meditation where you are assisted via the course of your meditations. These may be short or long, and are usually listened to via your web browser, or downloaded for you to enjoy whenever and wherever you want.

There are many characteristics to guided meditation. First and foremost, the guided meditation forces you to keep up your concentration on what you are listening to as you are meditating. This is extremely useful for those who tend to have their attentions wander. Through the use of someone speaking to you and the partnership of soothing music, guided meditation is one of the simpler forms of meditation to master. As many people find success at this form of meditation, it has grown in popularity.

The second characteristic of guided meditation, and perhaps the most consequential, is that this form of meditation gives you the foundation you need to meditate on your own. Regardless of whether you download your guided meditation as a track to be listened to via headphones or by speaker, or whether you have a teacher guiding you, these sorts of meditations give you what you require to learn how to meditate properly. It guides your thoughts and allows you to concentrate on what you are trying to master.

Guided meditation may be utilised in practically any form of meditation. It is a common teaching tool, and is exceedingly pliable. You can arrange with your teacher to cover sure elements of your self that you wish to improve, or you may select between numerous already recorded meditations that fit your requires. The most commonly targeted meditations are obtainable for download.

If the thought of listening to someone speak bothers you, you can choose to use guided meditation as a memory exercise. Many of the guided meditations are accessible as text that you may memorize, then concentrate on. You may then turn the guided meditation into a mantra that you may utilize whenever you meditate.

When you are selecting which guided meditations to work with, you should keep your goals clearly in mind. Meditation is a powerful tool, and you wish to make sure that you are focusing on the correct sorts of meditation. For example, if you wish to become a more compassionate person, you should focus on guided meditations relating to compassion, the healing of yourself and others, also as sympathy. These will aid you achieve your goals of becoming more compassionate.

By Liz Makin

There are positive and negative aspects to stress, and it is important to find the right balance in your life. By following good stress management strategies, you can enjoy the beneficial and positive side of stress.

In this article we discuss whether or not stress can be good for you.

What is stress? Stress is the state that you experience when you perceive that you cannot adequately cope with the demands being made on you. You feel under pressure and don’t have the physical and mental reserves to cope. This may be because you don’t know how to cope, don’t have the resources to cope or are in poor health.

What causes stress? Many different situations can cause stress, ranging from a series of minor irritations to major upheavals, including work pressures, personal problems, financial worries, health concerns, perfectionism, procrastination, poor time management, putting too much pressure on yourself, low self confidence, negative self talk or not looking after yourself. Sometimes there is no obvious cause of stress at all.

What are the symptoms of stress? How you cope with stress lies in how you relate to yourself as each situation arises. If you cannot cope, you experience a build up of tensions that can affect you physically, psychologically and emotionally. Symptoms of stress can include:

- Physical signs such as chest pains, increased blood pressure, heart racing, palpitations, panic attacks, constant tiredness, cramps or muscle spasms, food, cigarette or drug cravings, dizziness, lack of appetite, nail biting, headaches, stomach disorders, feeling sick, frequent crying, restlessness, sleeping problems and a tendency to perspire. The body produces ‘fight or flight’ chemicals which prepare the body for an emergency. Cortisol releases fat and sugar into your body and reduces the efficiency of the immune system. Long term these can lead to high blood pressure, strokes, heart attacks and other major health problems.

- Emotional symptoms such as feelings of anxiety, fear, anger, frustration, psychosomatic illnesses and depression. Thoughts may become jumbled and confused and you may become preoccupied with problems.

- Behavioural changes such as being withdrawn, indecisive, inflexible, inability to sleep, increased sensitivity to criticism, irritability, tearfulness and aggression, as well as inability to concentrate.

How can you manage stress? Managing stress is one of the areas that my clients often ask for support with. Stress management involves recognising the symptoms of stress, identifying the causes of stress, taking action to address the causes and thereby reduce the symptoms and where necessary, taking interim steps to relieve the symptoms until the underlying causes have been addressed. There are many different ways of managing stress, including:

-Time management, including goal and action planning, delegation, controlling perfectionism and overcoming procrastination.

- Assertiveness, including recognising behaviours, dealing with criticism and with anger and learning how to say no.

- Rational thinking, including positive thinking, challenging distorted thinking and irrational beliefs.

- Self care, including relaxation, having fun, learning to express yourself, understanding yourself, exercise, healthy eating, a good work-life balance, developing hobbies and interests, expanding your circle of friends and looking after your mental health.

- Medical, including various types of medication.

- Stress management therapies, including psychotherapy, counselling, massage, aromatherapy, reflexology and many more.

Can stress be good for you? Stress is not necessarily bad or dangerous and if you can manage stress in a positive way you can keep on top of things. You will then see stress as invigorating and challenging rather than something to fear. As stress levels increase we move from a state of low performance to a state of peak performance, but as stress levels continue to increase our performance decreases again, as we become overloaded and reach a state of exhaustion and burnout. It is therefore a delicate balance and different for each person. However if stress is well managed it can be beneficial.

If you would like further information, or to use any of our services, please refer to the Makin It Happen – Coaching, Mentoring & Stress Management website at http://www.makinithappen.co.uk, or contact Liz Makin at Liz@makinithappen.co.uk.

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