Re-approach Stress During a Pandemic

Stress and Immunity

When we experience stress, the immune system?s ability to fight infection is reduced.??Neurotransmitters communicate to the part of the brain that processes emotional signals (amygdala).?An alert is sent to the part of the brain that?acts as the connector between the endocrine and nervous systems (hypothalamus).?The hypothalamus communicates with the rest of the body through the nervous system activating the fight or flight response, resulting in the release of cortisol?(Chrousos, 2009, pp. 374-81).

Stress?wreaks havoc on our bodies and immune system?

When you?re?stressed, your immune system?s ability to fight off antigens is reduced, making you more susceptible to getting sick.??While you can?t completely avoid stress from social distancing and isolation, you can change how you respond to stress. Mind-body strategies can help us reframe a painful or difficult experience into one that reinforces a sense of resiliency, self-control, and confidence.

If?stress?travels with you like unwanted baggage, take advantage of the stay at home order to reset your pattern and let it go. Harnessing the mind-body connection activates powerful inner resources for relaxation and healing. By making a commitment to incorporate mind-body modalities, you will stand taller, breathe easier, and elicit the relaxation response. Cognition, focus, and IQ go up, because you can think more clearly.

Research now shows that the brain is malleable and ever changing throughout lifespan and moldable by both positive and negative thoughts and experiences. Mind-body therapies can catalyze the healing response and??manage an array of autoimmune, cardiovascular, neurological, stress and pain related symptoms.

Create Awareness with Mindfulness

Mindfulness is the ability to be fully present and aware in a current moment. When you practice mindfulness, you are not overly reactive or overwhelmed by the what is going around you. Pausing to practice mindfulness for just a few moments throughout the day can help can create awareness, and reset your stress response pattern.

?What you can do now
Start by being in the moment with simple tasks like brushing your teeth, experiencing the taste and texture of your meals, or noticing nature while taking a walk. Pay attention to the sounds, smells, tastes and feels of those activities. By doing this you?re creating space for yourself to think, space to breathe, and you will see how mindfulness has the power to change the way you see the world.

Using the power of breath can help you relax when your stress flares. I use??Dr. Weil?s famous?4-7-8-?breath?technique?twice each day to help reduce?my stress and anxiety.

Here’s how it works and it only takes 2 minutes:

Inhale through your nose for a count of 4
Hold your?breath?for a count of 7
Exhale through your mouth to a count of 8
Repeat 4 cycles

Experience a Clear Space with Meditation

According to Jon Kabat-Zinn ?Mindfulness means paying attention in a particular way; on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally.?

Meditation improves sleep, cognition, memory, attention, and processing speed. It basically makes you smarter. When you meditate, genes related to inflammation become less active. Research suggests people with a regular meditation practice may have a reduced risk of inflammation-related diseases (Bredesen, 2019).

There are many different ways to mediate, but I like to keep it simple.

Bring yourself to a relaxed and comfortable posture, either sitting on the floor, in a chair, or lying on your back.
Allow your body to naturally inhale a deep breath
Exhale completely, releasing all tension. As you exhale, mentally say a word or thought that holds either neutral or positive connotations (such as love, grateful, or compassion)
Start with 5 minutes a day and add minutes as you develop consistency.

If you need help dropping into a meditative state, apps like?Headspace,??Calm,??Waking Up?, and?Insight Timer,?offer a variety of options.

During this time, it?s important to remind yourself that certain things are out of your control. By incorporating deep breathing and mindfulness techniques, you will lower your stress physiology and change the way you react to unwanted situations. You can do that when you are feeling centered and nourished.

Quick Tips to Combat Stress?

If you?re feeling stress around COVID-19, here are some ways to cope:

Avoid burnout with a regular work schedule:?while?working at home, it’s easy to blend both work and family responsibilities.? Try keeping clear boundaries around work hours.
Start each meal with 3 deep belly breaths:?this allows your body to switch from a sympathetic “fight or flight” nervous?system to a parasympathetic “rest and digest” mode.
Connect with nature through all your senses:?See its beauty, smell its organic fragrances, feel its textures and temperatures, and hear its sounds to nurture and elevate your mood.
Connect with others:?Although we are physically distancing, stay socially connected.? Share family meals to enhance communication and help reduce signs of depression and anxiety. Take walks 6 feet apart, and talk with people you trust about your concerns and how you are feeling.

It?s important to remember that you cannot control what happens in a global pandemic, but you can control how to react to stress. By practicing?healthy self-care, you will build resiliency?and strength and support a healthy immune system.

To your good health,

Karen

More Resources

Letting go of unwanted stress with an emotional detox can help you become aware of your hidden fears, anger, frustration, and resentment. This allows you, with?mindful?choices, to replace these emotions with forgiveness, love, trust and hope.

Now may be??a great time to declutter your mind and upgrade your health with one of my?14 Day Transformation?self-care challenges. I offer three 2-week cleanses to meet you wherever you?re at in your wellness journey: Foundations, Master Your Metabolism, and Toxin Takedown.