By Marion Colledge

Stress.

We all talk about it, but what does it actually mean? According to the NHS, ‘Stress is the feeling of being under too much mental or emotional pressure. Pressure turns into stress when you feel unable to cope.’

This can mean many different things for us, especially in the current situation. You may feel stressed because of too much work, too little work, finances, a difficult relationship, chronic illness, or simply anxiety about being in lockdown. It’s also very relevant to think about stress in the context of lifting lockdown, as that brings with it a myriad of new challenges. Are you someone who quite likes the simplicity of life as it is right now and you’re maybe dreading having to get back out there and socialise, get on trains or buses and physically going back to work? Kids and teenagers have lost the best part of a year of face to face learning and might now feel the pressure of performing well and of being back in a social situation like the classroom which can be stressful.

But not all stress is bad. We need a certain amount of it in every day life in order to feel motivated, curious, energetic and to perform well.

 A lot of our current understanding of the stress response is based on Hans Selye’s (1907 - 1982) stress theory. According to this, there are 3 stages of stress: first we enter the acute phase - the adrenal glands release hormones such as cortisol, adrenalin and noradrenalin. Our heart rate goes up, our mind is sharpened, muscles tighten, blood pressure goes up. We are ready to face the challenge. If the stress continues we enter the resistance phase where we still have increased cortisol to help us cope but after a certain time this will drop and we enter the stage of exhaustion, often talked about as adrenal fatigue. Not only has cortisol production now dropped but it also has had an impact on many other areas in our body, like our brain function, mood, sex hormones and immune system.

So what can we do when we feel so stressed or fatigued that we think we can’t cope? We need to support the body during phase 2 and phase 3 to prevent it from getting too depleted, because that’s when we start showing symptoms like feeling anxious, problems sleeping, low mood, irritability, extreme fatigue, recurrent infections, chronic pain etc.

 Here are some suggestions on how to support your body during these times:

Online or phone appointments can also be arranged. Email Marion directly: marioncolledge@gmx.de

Marion Colledge
@herbs_nutrition_wellness

Medical Herbalist BSc(Hons) with Nutritional Therapy
Massage Therapist ITEC
Manual Lymphatic Drainage Practitioner (Vodder) MLD UK