Why is Stress a Problem?
A high proportion of my clients list stress as one of the issues in their lives. He or she might have also started to get symptoms as a result of long-standing stress so want it fixed (often so the pace of work can continue but that isn’t always what our bodies are capable of delivering). We need to heed the warning signs!
Pushing ourselves so hard that we feel stressed can become habitual and this is very likely to take its toll on our health if we choose that path. It pushes our bodies into fight/flight mode which can lead to all sorts of issues over time. This is a mechanism we have to get us out of danger in an emergency. Our general state the majority of the time should be calm and measured, allowing us to have fun and be at our true best, not the under-pressure best.
There is a lot each of us can do to minimise stress and return to balance, however chaotic our lives are.
I can support the individual in many ways using holistic therapies. Sometimes this enables him or her to cope better, even if nothing else changes. Together with our conversations about the circumstances, my therapy sessions can also change the perspective of the person about the stressors. A different mindset about the issue can make the stressor become part of life that is not stressful anymore.
If we change the way we see the world, the world changes.
Dr Wayne Dyer
Changing our own energy field in some way often makes those around us react differently to us. People who have been bullied at work can find that it stops once they have had the Bands of Power shamanic rite (I often give this as part of my other services because it is so useful). This puts protection within the energy field and somehow disguises the vulnerability that was being picked up by others previously.
Everything I do is working at the energetic level so clears away blockages caused by past events and anything stopping us from hearing our own intuition whilst also providing nudges to get the energy field working better for us.
The stress-balance pendant that you can find in the shop is a superb tool that I use myself at times when I am stressed. It keeps me able to focus on the job at hand and out of the loop of worrying thoughts. It can be used by a group of people, one at a time.
Sometimes a big brave change is required to eliminate the stress, as was the case for Jane below:
Jane* came to see me because she was stressed and feeling ill all the time with no energy. We discussed her work and identified that she hated the long hours and stresses of being the accountant for a busy and disorganised company. She was constantly jumping to their tune and not able to work at her own pace, often having to work late because of someone else’s inefficiency.
At home too she was in a fairly loveless relationship where her partner ran his business from home and, again, she was looking after the finances and hated it. She had recently started selling a range of products for a network marketing company and really enjoyed meeting people and sharing her delight in the products with them.
After a few e-Lybra sessions Jane was feeling better but hating the work more than ever as she saw how it was draining her. I was surprised, yet pleased, to hear that Jane had handed her notice in. She had a few ideas for her own business that she wanted to try and could see how her health was suffering from the job she hated so knew this had to be done. Her time as an accountant was over.
Now Jane is successfully running her business and a couple of others she’s started since! She looks a different person, much more vibrant, happier, and younger!
*not her real name
The e-Lybra sessions cleared the confusion away so Jane could see where the problems were in her life and how to sort them out.
When the thing causing our stress is genuinely outside of our control then that is tough. For example, if we are left to care for a chronically ill loved one the burden that puts upon us can be very hard to bear. Emotions can be stretched to both extremes from heart-wrenching sadness to anger and frustration with many things – the person, the ‘system’, other relatives who aren’t pulling their weight etc.
It is still possible to find a perspective that puts attention away from the cause of the stress. Focusing on gratitude for the things that are good in life and finding pleasure in giving service, whether or not it is appreciated, might sound a bit far fetched but it is a way to find peace within ourselves.
Dr. Wayne Dyer wrote about a mother who had lovingly cared for her daughter day and night for many years since she had gone into a coma. The book is called ‘A promise is a promise’.
We do need to find ways to look after ourselves and get a break, however brief. There are many things we can do to recharge our batteries gently, even if there are only a few minutes spare.
Self-help
Here are some ideas to help you find some peace and relief from stress (in no particular order).
If stress is stopping you from sleeping then some of these will help with this too. Please use common sense and only do these things when it is safe to do so!
Audio – Calming music, guided meditations and hypnosis
Try playing calming music, or guided meditations (through earplugs if you share the room perhaps). I particularly like guided meditations and have quite a lot available to listen to if I need to unwind at night.
I have various ones that I use from Gong Bath recordings (plinky plonky music) to Anita Moorjani, Louise Hay, Doreen Virtue, Sanaya Roman and others.
There are guided hypnosis audios available as well that some people find helpful to retrain the mind to handle things differently.
Breath control
Breathing deeply and slowly can also help calm the mind and body. Try breathing in for four beats, holding the breath for four beats, breathing out for four beats, holding the breath for four beats and so on. A few minutes doing this can calm the mind.
Visualise a calming scene
With your eyes closed, picture yourself in one of your favourite places, perhaps lying on the beach or some other peaceful calm place. Fire up all your senses as you imagine the sights, the sounds, the smells, how the breeze feels on your skin and so on. (This is more powerful than counting sheep I find!)
Relaxing aromatherapy oils
If you have an oil vaporiser then that is the easiest way to get the smells into the air. These come in simple pottery form with space below for a tea light, or you can get sophisticated electric ones that display different colours as well. Otherwise, you can put a drop on a handkerchief or tissue and sniff it.
The oils can be selected individually or purchased as blends for specific purposes – relaxation, de-stressing, promoting sleep and so on.
Valerie Ann Worwood has some excellent books on aromatherapy oils e.g. Complete Book of Essential Oils and Aromatherapy, Revised and Expanded: Over 800 Natural, Nontoxic, and Fragrant Recipes to Create Health, Beauty, and Safe Home and Work Environments
Take care if you have animals in the room. Some oils are harmful to some pets.
Tapping
EFT – energy tapping – is a superb way to diffuse any stress (and other emotions and even pain and physical symptoms) that you feel in your body. It uses tapping around certain meridian points on the body using your fingers so can be done when you are out and about. No equipment is required. To concentrate it is probably best to find a quiet place alone to do the tapping.
There is information readily available on the internet, it is very simple to do and very effective.
Nick and Jessica Ortner have a great website with free introductory videos to tapping. They have written some excellent books and have an app you can put on your phone and have 5-10 minute guided tapping sessions to hand whenever you need them.
Homeopathy
There are specific remedies to calm you as an individual, prescribed after a homeopathic consultation to match a remedy to you and your symptoms.
For self-help, a simple starting point though is to get a combination remedy, such as Narayani’s Calming mix (or Sleep mix at night). A number of my clients have found these extremely useful.
Passiflora and Coffea are other remedies that can have calming benefits and help with sleep.
Homeopathic pharmacies can advise you about these and send them to you (or you can order via me – I am a Registered Homeopath)
Essences
I am a big fan of essences. My favourites are the Alaskan and Bach Essences.
Bach Rescue Remedy is readily available in pharmacies and health food stores and is excellent for easing anxiety and stress.
Alaskan essence blend Soul Support is a nice one to give you a boost. The four sacred space sprays (available in my shop) are also great for lifting the atmosphere in any room.
Do get in touch with me if you would like someone to support you. It would be my pleasure to use the skills and tools I have to hand to do so.
