Is stress affecting my symptoms?

Is stress affecting my symptoms?

Many people are noticing that their symptoms – both physical and emotional – have flared up recently.  Whilst you might be able to pinpoint the fact that sitting at your new desk/the kitchen table in a less-than-ideal position is affecting your back or shoulders, why has your monthy cycle suddenly gone awol?  Maybe the tension headaches, anxiety attacks, IBS or poor sleep that you thought you’d got over have come back? Unfortunately, stress is playing a role, affecting symptoms.

How our emotions affect us

Stress can cause or exacerbate ongoing health problems.  And, let’s face it, there’s nothing like the current period that we’re living through to cause stress: from juggling working from home with online schooling, to trying to look after older relatives (whether that’s bringing them food parcels, arranging care or trying to teach them to use FaceTime).  So don’t be surprised if your emotional stress chooses now as the moment to show up in physical symptoms.  It’s your body’s way of alerting you that all is not quite as it should be.

We need to remember is that it’s ok not to feel ok sometimes.  We’re only human after all – anger, fear, grief and sadness are as much a part of life as happiness & contentment.  It allows us to appreciate the small things more: relationships, laughter, food on the table, nature.

What is important is that the “not feeling ok”doesn’t become a permanent pattern.  Once Lockdown is over, I’m expecting to treat lot of people with acupuncture for the effects that stress has had on them. Enough said.

What can I do to help ease the symptoms?

There are many different ways to ease stress that’s affecting your symptoms. Here’s my take:

1. Look after yourself. Unfortunately, lying on the sofa for hours watching Netflix and eating Hob-nobs didn’t do anyone’s health before Lockdown any good – and that isn’t going to change.  Try and eat healthily, get outside (if you are able to), do some exercise, drink water (the single most important thing you can do in Chinese Medicine), keep to some form of routine. It sounds obvious, but sometimes we need to be reminded of the basics, which really can make a difference.
2. Spend 15 mins a day simply breathing.  A simple counting to five when you breathe in and again when you out is a good start. Start (or continue) meditating – this calms the nervous system down.
3. Make a plan of action:
   1. Write down a list of everything that is currently causing you stress.
   2. Put a tick against what you can influence.  Put a cross/line through what you can’t.
   3. Drop the stuff you can’t influence. Yes, a friend’s photos on Instagram about their perfect life/the company policy on working from home/not being able to get hold of a bag of flour or tin of tomatoes might frustrate you – but frustration (anger in Chinese Medicine) will do your health more harm and exacerbate your symptoms. As will sadness, over-thinking, grief and fear.  Some emotion is good – but getting stuck in one emotion permanently isn’t.
   4. Take your list of ticks – and start to work through them.  One by one.  As you work down the list, reward yourself.  Gradually the list will lessen, and you’ll regain control.

At the end of the day, you can only do what you can do. Learn what you can along the way, particularly if it’s going to be of use in the future. As long as you know that you have gone in and tried your best, that’s all that can be asked of you.  So spend the time finding things you enjoy doing, that will make cherished memories when this is over – and put your energy into them.  You’ll be glad you did – and so will your health.