What is Stress

Stress is the set of reactions carried out by an individual in the face of external stimuli perceived as destabilizing, unexpected and often threatening.

Whether it is an intense period of work, or an unexpected change, stressful situations vary from person to person , and induce a change in the balance of those who suffer them, both physically, mentally and emotionally.

From a physical point of view, stress manifests itself with the introduction of a greater quantity of adrenaline into the body, with overloading of the adrenal glands.

When the situation persists, stress leads to physical exhaustion: fatigue, depression, tension, insomnia, digestive problems, are all symptoms of physical and mental overload resulting from persistent stress.

In this case it is useful to run for cover, before reaching a complete exhaustion.

Read also How to manage stress >>

10 natural remedies for stress

Before reaching the limit, it is possible to manage stress and overload through simple and effective natural remedies accessible to all :

1. Stopping : easier said than done, however, it is the first necessity of an organism cornered by too high a pace. Meditation is a simple and immediate way that allows you to slow down and regain possession of reality. There are many types of meditation , and starting to meditate is very easy: the simplest wayit consists in stopping for a few minutes and concentrating the attention on the breath that goes in and out, rhythmically, without trying to force it or direct it. Just listening to this natural rhythm allows you to calm the breath itself and to give a stop to all accelerated physiology, allowing us to then resume activities with a greater sense of freshness and clarity. It takes just 5 minutes three times a day: in the morning, in the evening, and in the middle of the day;
2. The essential oils , used in the essence burner, help to relax the nerves and rest the mind: 5 drops lavender , 5 drops sandalwood , 3 drops bergamot , diluted in a little water, make up a pleasant blend. Lavender has calming and fortifying properties at the same time, sandalwood relieves tension and helps to slow down, while bergamot reinforces the effect of the oils it is combined with;
3. Bach flowers : they rebalance the symptoms deriving from stress, acting on the causes. Each of us reacts differently to different stimuli, and what for me may be a source of stress for someone else may not have any destabilizing effect. Assuming that stress is an exaggerated and prolonged reaction to a stimulus interpreted as “threatening” and “urgent to resolve”, Bach flowers normalize the personal response and allow you to return to a state of equilibrium if they have gone on for too long. time the stressful conditions. 
4. Olive and Vervein help to recharge your energy after a particularly busy period and to relax tensions. Other flowers can help, for example Oak, Elm, White Chestnut and Hornbeam, and all of them act on prolonged fatigue and the feeling of excessive responsibility;
5. Stress stop : stress stop is a blend of Australian flowers specially designed for times when you are subjected to prolonged stress. The blend of these Australian flowers allows you to find calm and center yourself, helping those who hire it to distinguish between priorities and access their resources without being overwhelmed;
6. Nutrition is an important support for those subjected to stress: supplementing with foods containing B vitamins , magnesium and potassium, helps relieve fatigue and decrease the production of cortisol and adrenaline. It is also not recommended, during moments of overload, to introduce exciters such as caffeine, theine, alcohol, smoke, and sugars: the sensation of immediate “charge” they give does nothing but further exhaust the energy, momentarily, then leaving even more tired, tense and exhausted;
7. Spending at  least 15 or 20 minutes allows you to move the body and discharge the excess energy that is produced and stored when we are under stress. Oxygenating the body and mind helps, as well as meditation, to put a stop to the frenetic pace from which it often seems to be unable to break away;
8. Sunlight : Continued stress exhausts the body but also the mind, and can lead to physical exhaustion and apathy or depression. Exposing yourself to sunlight for as long as possible during the day allows you to regulate your mood. The ideal would be at least half an hour every day, but even just the commute to go to work or to make two bus stops while moving from one destination to another is more than useful;
9. Infusions and herbal teas : the most famous infusion is that of chamomile. It can be drunk in large quantities during the day, taking care not to leave it to infuse for more than three minutes, after which time chamomile becomes a tonic rather than a sedative. Hawthorn , lime , lemon balm : these are all readily available herbs that help restore the balance of the body, calming the mind as well;
10. Sleeping and resting are necessary activities for those under stress. Stress leads to poor rest and sleep disturbances, and few hours of sleep fuel stress. It is a vicious circle from which it is difficult to get out. For this reason it is absolutely and strictly necessary to dedicate the right time to a quality rest. If the head and the body continue to work autonomously even during the hours we should dedicate to sleep, we can help ourselves with the infusions we wrote above, with meditation and deep relaxation: once the mind is stopped, the body will collapse under the weight of fatigue;
11. Self-treatment of acupressure : there are points that allow you to relax the nerves. Some of this need to be performed by experienced operators, while others can be handled alone. These are the points on the hands and feet. The hand massage can be performed in the points located at the base of the neck, on the temples, and in the point between the two eyebrows.

    A foot massage , on the other hand, can also be performed without having notions of reflexology, it is relaxing and regenerating at the same time: the soles of the feet are massaged, pressing on the soft parts, and the back, taking care to press between the grooves of the metatarsals.