Support to relieve pandemic stress
While we are all are getting used to the 'new normal' of living during a global pandemic, I am also noticing that for many of my clients the baseline of stress and anxiety they experience on a daily basis has been quite a bit higher.
When the economy first shut down, many people reported an easing of the chronic stress that came from demanding and fast-paced lives. But this sense has been replaced by a new form of stress created by living with uncertainty, heightened vigilance and anxiety over the future over a prolonged time. And now with more and more people returning to pre-shut-down schedules while at the same time living with pandemic-specific stress, this situation is placing a huge strain on our nervous systems, leading to mental exhaustion, irritability, anxiety, mild depression and sleep issues.
So now, more than ever, it's important to take steps to protect your nervous system and find habits that help release some of that stress and mitigate its damaging effects on your health. Here are a few ideas:
Eat healthy fats:
Salmon, halibut, tuna, almonds, walnuts, nut butters in general, avocados, olive oil. (But be careful with too many of these foods if you are prone to lots of respiratory phlegm.)
Homeopathic injections to soothe the nervous system:
Calmvalera is a homeopathic remedy used for stress-induced problems such as nervous and mental exhausted, sleep disturbances, and mild anxiety or depression. The homepathic solution is injected into acupuncture points to enhance their function.
Acupuncture and herbal supplements:
You've probably heard me say, "relaxation is one of the side-effects of acupuncture". When it is combined with herbal formulas specific to easing stress, it is a powerful way to support the nervous system.
Make time for restorative practices:
Yoga, TaiQi, Qi Gong, meditation, time in nature - all of these practices have been shown to settle the nervous system. And there are countless resources on YouTube that can help you get started.
Advice from the American Acupuncture Council:
This is health maintenance advice from the American Acupuncture Council that they shared at the start of the pandemic, and that I think is still applicable now that we’re four months in:
Do your best not to live in fear or anxiety about the situation. Yes, it is a serious matter that requires our attention. However, when we get trapped in a fear response our immune systems weaken in favor of survival mechanisms. Be wise and discerning about your lifestyle practices and choices, and trust you are doing what you can to keep yourself and your family safe.
Fresh air is vital to healthy immunity - make a point of getting outside, daily. Even as little as 10 to 15 minutes three times throughout the day will benefit you.
Rest! Get plenty of sleep and rest.
Take some time off, perhaps use this time for a personal at-home retreat where you just enjoy some time spent away from work, extra-curricular activities and the hustle and bustle of life. Walks in nature, healthy dinners together with your family, board games, curling up with a good book and limiting your social contact are all enriching ways to protect yourself from community transmission.
Increase your consumption of anti-oxidant and nutrient-dense infection-fighting foods like: organic blueberries, raspberries, spinach, sprouts, garlic, onions, ginger, parsley, cilantro, spirulina, celery juice, bone broth and fermented foods and beverages.
Drink lots of water. Drinking good quality water and herbal teas, staying hydrated, is one of the best things you can do to flush out toxins from your body and help support the immune system.
Keep your immune system strong by reducing your sugar intake and eating a balanced diet. Avoid eating processed sugars. Sugar weakens the immune system and makes it less able to deal with viruses and bacteria. Be sure to read food labels carefully and to limit the amount of sugar you eat.
