Moderator:
Good morning, everybody. It is my pleasure to introduce our speaker for today's lecture, Dr. Howard Walcott. Dr. Walcott has written numerous articles on the topic of stress management. Today he will talk about how to deal with stress and pressure. Welcome, Dr. Walcott.
Dr. Walcott:
Hello, everyone. Today's lecture will focus on how to fight against stress.
Every human being experiences stress in life. Our tiring jobs, faulty eating habits and pollution may add to the cause of stress. Everyone reacts to stress differently. Some can cope with it and some cannot. Studies have proved that an increase in stress hormones might speed up cognitive decline in people as you age.
When you feel stress, your body produces chemicals which lead to an increase in blood pressure, high blood sugar levels and in the worst case may lead to major organ damage. So, it is important to fight against stress before it troubles you.
Here are some of the most effective natural stress reducers:
Music therapy: How about a prescription for ear soothing music to fight and overcome stress and diseases? Sounds great, doesn't it? Whether you accept it or not, music affects our daily life, as every human responds to it. A combination of psychology and counselling, music can act as a healing therapy to cure several conditions like depression, personality issues, cancer, etc.
Outdoor walking: Walking is an inexpensive, low-risk and the easiest accessible form of exercise. It significantly contributes to enhanced mental and physical health.
Meditation: Meditation is certainly the best way to keep stress at bay. As studies suggest, daily 25 minutes of focused meditation drastically affects people's ability to recover under stress.
Massage: If you are a massage lover, here is one more reason for you to indulge in it more often as massage improves vascular function and helps in reducing stress. Essential oils help to soothe your mind and eliminate anxiety.
Sleep well: Most of us do not care about our sleeping schedule or do not get adequate sleep. A good amount of sleep of say 7-8 hours is a must to relax your mind and reduce stress levels.
Exercise: Studies have proved that daily physical exercise helps protect your brain from stress-induced depression. One should ensure physical activity like walking, jogging, playing games like tennis or football on a daily basis for at least 30 minutes as it is very good for one's mind.
Positive thinking: Yes, you heard it right. Positive thinking plays a major role in combating stress. It may be a little difficult to think positively in a stressful situation, but believe it or not giving positive messages to your mind helps ease anxiety and helps you remain calm and happy.
Laugh out loud and smile: No, I am not kidding. "Laughter is the best medicine" is an age-old saying and holds true in this age too. Whenever you face a situation when you are extremely stressed, try laughing or if not at least smile as it releases chemicals which decrease stress level in the body. I hope the lecture today will be of help and benefit to you. Thank you.