Stress Relief Strategies to Ease Allergy Symptoms
Stress Relief Strategies to Ease Allergy Symptoms
Do daily pressures have your allergy symptoms spiking? Try these simple tips for stress relief.
When we're exposed to a stressful situation, our bodies prepare for confrontation. This "fight or flight" response is controlled by our hormones and nervous system and dates back to prehistory, as we prepared to fight or flee our stressor.
Though we may not fight wild animals anymore, there are still "wild animals" facing us daily in the form of arguments, a phone that won't stop ringing, and perpetually full in-boxes. Now when you add miserable allergy symptoms, you've got a recipe for disaster -- unless you take time to do something for stress relief.
To get back in control when allergy symptoms have you reeling, consider the following stress-relief strategies:
Stress Relief Strategies to Ease Allergy Symptoms
Do daily pressures have your allergy symptoms spiking? Try these simple tips for stress relief.
Managing Stress to Ease Allergy Symptoms continued...
When we're exposed to a stressful situation, our bodies prepare for confrontation. This "fight or flight" response is controlled by our hormones and nervous system and dates back to prehistory, as we prepared to fight or flee our stressor.
Though we may not fight wild animals anymore, there are still "wild animals" facing us daily in the form of arguments, a phone that won't stop ringing, and perpetually full in-boxes. Now when you add miserable allergy symptoms, you've got a recipe for disaster -- unless you take time to do something for stress relief.
Stress Relief Strategies When Allergy Symptoms Escalate
To get back in control when allergy symptoms have you reeling, consider the following stress-relief strategies:
- Figure out what's adding to your stressful feelings and remove or reduce the source. If your stress is from overwork, learn to delegate, especially during allergy season. If your stress is from overextending yourself, rethink your priorities.
- Get plenty of sleep every night, not just on weekends. Getting in bed and resting can restore the body's balance and help the allergic body heal.
- Set priorities and budget your time to allow for a little relaxation. Having a more balanced life with moments of R&R each day can help you deal with allergy symptoms more effectively.
- Exercise daily. Even if you only have time to take a walk, exercise helps reduce stress hormones that may cause you to feel keyed up. And remember, exercise produces epinephrine, which acts as a natural decongestant, helping you breathe better.
- Learn to meditate. Twenty minutes of meditation once or twice daily can help you reduce stress and feel more relaxed.
- Keep taking your allergy medications. While that may not sound like a stress-relief strategy, it might surprise you. Stress may cause anxiety and depression, says Marshall, and depressed individuals are less compliant with their medications. So stay on track!
Source...