Dr. Brian Mowll The Diabetic Coach
Stress
can negatively impact your body in many ways: it can lead to weight gain, cause
headaches, reduce immunity, lead to bad sleeping habits, decrease concentration
and work performance, and much more.Your
willpower, energy, and mood all suffer when you are feeling stressed, and this
makes it very difficult to stick to eating a healthy diet and exercising, which
are crucial for controlling blood sugar with diabetes.High
levels of stress lead to the release of hormones from the adrenal glands,
called cortisol and adrenaline, which affect everything from our appetite to
our sleep. Controlling these hormones by beating stress will help you control
and regulate blood sugar, keep your immune system healthy, and lose weight, if
necessary.
Here’s
5 important ways to de-stress:
Meditation :- Give
yourself a mental break through scientifically proven meditation. Start by
sitting quietly upright with your spine straight. Focus on your breath, close your
eyes, and tune out other distractions while you follow the sound of your breath
in and out. Your mind will of course wander, but keep coming back to your
breath. Begin with 10 minutes daily and work your way up to 20-30 minutes.
Physical
Activity : Exercise
4-5 times per week for at least 30 minutes to release stress and create
balance. The body is meant to move, and exercise stimulates powerful brain
chemicals, called endorphins which can make you happier. This helps improve
your mood and also helps you sleep better as well.
Breath
Work :- Do you
know how to breathe? Of course, we all breathe thousands of times every day,
but very few people breathe consciously, with awareness. Focusing on breath
allows you to tap into your autonomic nervous system, and combined with
meditation, can help to restore relaxation. Seek out a guided breath work class
or just start focusing more on slowing down and taking deep breaths when stress
comes on.
Journaling : - Keeping
a journal helps you to reflect on your own feelings and make positive changes
towards your goals. A journal is a great way to “blow off steam” by expressing
yourself privately and learning about your own tendencies. It’s also a great
place to dump your thoughts before going to sleep at night. One technique many
people like is to journal about one or two things that you are grateful for at
the end of each day.
Epsom
Salt Baths : –Taking
a hot bath with magnesium salt and essential oils, like lavender, can help to
draw out toxins from the body, relax nerves and muscles, and is a great way to
decompress. Integrate a relaxing, epsom salt bath 1-2 times per week for
full-body relaxation.Stress
is difficult to avoid in today’s world. The effects of stress can be
devastating to blood sugar and overall health. Find a strategy that you can do
daily and weekly to allow yourself to decompress and release stress to prevent
long term consequences.
