We’re often told by our doctors and other healthcare providers to destress. It’s so much easier said than done. While meditation works well for some people, others just can’t get their minds to quiet down enough for meditation. Bubble baths sing relaxation but those bath tubs sure are hard to clean afterwards. At times, when we hear others tell us to destress, it feels almost tone-deaf. Don’t they realize that finding time to relax is often challenging?
There is, however, truth to decreasing our overall stress levels. Too much stress may induce inflammation and offset our body’s homeostasis. The gut-brain axis exists, and our digestive tract is the longest organ system in our body. Within that are many neurons. So sometimes when our stress levels are high, our digestive tract neurons get triggered, and we can experience some serious gut distress such as abdominal pain, nausea, and even changes in bowel habits. This is part of the reason why some of us have IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).
Diaphragmatic breathing (check out my page on this https://zanygastro.com/easy-way-to-diaphragmatic-breathing/) may help counteract some of that stress from time to time, getting us to relax more. However, some people when encountered with stressful situations tend to catastrophize or think more negative outcomes. Catastrophizing takes us down a rabbit hole, increases our already high stress levels, and potentially gives us gut distress. Counteracting catastrophizing before things magnify is key. Although relaxation is important (I do encourage a bubble bath from time to time), changing our mindset can be equally helpful. The following are some things I try to keep in mind when facing stressful situations:
- When I’m in a negative place, try to change a thought, move a muscle, and make a change.
- What are the facts? What are the emotions? Remember emotions are not facts.
- What can I change? What can’t I change? What am I willing to change?
- I am powerless over people, places, and things. I can only control my own reaction.
- Acceptance of a situation does not mean liking a situation. But it doesn’t mean we have to be a doormat.
And remember for the most part the worst-case scenarios generally don’t happen. A lot of it is just our fears. And tomorrow isn’t here yet.