In the previous article we talked about autoimmune disorders, and I shared that regardless of what organ or body system is being targeted, the common thread between these different autoimmune diseases is that your immune system is confusing your own cells and tissues for foreign invaders that need to be destroyed. I also shared that your immune system, your nervous system and your hormonal system are all directly connected. So, when it comes to treating these disorders it’s not only good but VITAL to keep these pointers in mind.
Today’s article is dedicated to stress - because stress (negatively) impacts all 3 of these systems and is a big trigger for autoimmune diseases. So if you address stress, you’re helping EVERY system in your body, including your immune system. And I bet that this is not news to you. We all know that stress is “bad” for us. In fact, most of us are probably tired of hearing doctors and health gurus telling us (very vaguely) that we simply need to reduce our stress. So, I’m not going to do that.
Instead I’m going to give you concrete examples of different types of stressors that you may not even be aware of AND you can actually do something about!
Most people consider stress as traffic on their route to work, a bad co-worker or boss, an argument with their partner, an unruly teenage child and of course financial stress. And yes all of these are sources of stress. But let’s broaden our definition of stress even more.
You’re all familiar with psychological forms of stress as just stated, but then there’s also physiological forms of stress.
And, here are some examples of physiological sources of stress:
My intention behind giving you this list is not to overwhelm you, rather I want to help familiarize you with these hidden sources of stress in your life that are directly and negatively impacting your health so that you can work on reducing and/or eliminating them!
What to do now? Is the solution to start stressing about all of these potential sources of stress in your life? ABSOLUTELY NOT!
The antidote to anxiety is taking action, no matter how small…
Pick an area that is easiest for you and begin implementing positive changes. Work on it until it’s no longer a source of stress. Then make the change become a part of your lifestyle before moving to the next category.
For example, if you barely get any sunlight exposure, dedicate 5-10 minutes first thing in the morning upon waking up to being outside and exposing your eyes and skin to natural sunlight. Do the same thing in the afternoon close to when the sun is setting. And make this a part of your daily routine. This will not only help improve your physical health but also your mental and emotional health!
If you’re wondering where to start, start with the lowest hanging fruit – with the thing that is the easiest and you have no excuse for not doing it. And if you’re still stuck, start with sleep!! Because without proper sleep, it’ll be hard to make headway in most areas of your health. For some of you though, in order to get better sleep you may have to address other things such as drinking too much alcohol, blood sugar imbalances or not exercising.
This is how you go beyond just treating a disease and improve every aspect of your health!