When it comes to stress relief, there are quite a few options out there. Talk with your health care provider to find the one that may be right for you. Here are some of the more commonly available options for stress relief.
1. Natural
Quite a few treatment options come under this heading. Natural treatments focus on coping strategies like body movements, meditation, and natural supplements.
Yoga is worth considering as a stress relief option. This ancient discipline includes stretching and and positoning your body in poses and often involves meditation while in specific poses.
Meditation alone is an increasingly popular means of coping with stress. Deep breathing, relaxed muscles, and an aligned body frame are some of the reported benefits of meditation.
Supplements have been shown to be helpful in dealing with stress. Some natural health practitioners recommend supplementing with flax oil or evening primrose oil, as these essential fatty acids are said to play a role in healthy brain function. (They are sometimes suggested for those who suffer from depression, too.)
Other options include multi-vitamins with large portions of B6, or more specific dosing using B vitamins including B-complex, or B6 on its own. B vitamins have been proven to take a major role relating to moods and mental health.
There are other herbs and natural supplements that may help stress. If you can, locate a natural health practitioner or herbalist to help recommend something for you.
2. Medical
There is no shame is resorting to medication, as long as it is under a doctor’s supervision. Medication is said to be particularly indicated in helping people cope with sudden life changes or stress such as the loss of a loved one or a car accident. Medications are not necessarily indicated for dealing with everyday stressors.
Some stress sufferers find relief from stress-related headaches when they take medication. The goal of most medication of this nature is to get you to the point where you are able to seek help and deal with the underlying cause of your stress.
3. Dietary
In a dietary approach to stress management, what you avoid eating may be as important as what you do eat. Experts recommend avoiding sugar and caffeine, as these stimulants tend to provide short-term relief with a “crash” later. Caffeine in particular can have a cyclic effect – you consume the caffeine to cope, but then the caffeine keeps you awake or makes you irritable.
Try to include lots of fresh, whole foods in your stress-relieving diet to keep your body functioning in top shape.
4. Research
There can be great solace in learning about a topic that is bothering you. Take some time to research books and articles on stress. Explore everything you can about it, understanding how and why a person might experience symptoms similar to yours, and then learn methods to overcome it. Sometimes, just learning as much as you can about it helps you cope. It might become less mysterious and scary that way.
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