Natural Ways to Manage Stress

Posted: November 11, 2021

If you’re like most people, you deal with your fair share of stress. And often, this stress leads to turning to things that aren’t good for the body. Whether it’s drinking too much or eating processed “comfort” foods, these unhealthy stress beaters tend to make matters far worse. According to Clinical Herbalist Sallie Dixon, it’s a much better idea to use a natural substance with a long history of helping balance the body and mind. Enter: Adaptogens.

What Are Adaptogens and How Do They Work?

To find out more about adaptogens, I interviewed Clinical Herbalist Sallie Dixon. Sallie shared that adaptogens have a very unique action. Adaptogens, Sallie tells me that adaptogens, “..help the body to adapt to the effects of stress by calming the stress response internally, helping to manage existing cortisol levels, and acting on the chain of hormonal responses that happen as a reaction to stress. We can become immune to the hormones produced by stress and so we produce more and more of them leading to inflammation.”

When our bodies react to stress, we are thrown into a “fight or flight” response. Certain hormones like cortisol and adrenaline are produced and pumped out into the bloodstream to help our bodies deal with the danger in our environment. Our heart rates and breathing increase and our blood flow is directed away from our brain and digestion and toward our arms and legs. This is great for fighting an attacker or running like heck from a hungry bear, but it’s not great for our overall health. Over time, cortisol can help us pack on the weight, especially around our middle. And adrenaline can make it hard for us to relax enough at night to get a good night’s sleep. So, when adaptogens help our body deal with stress, they also help our body deal with the negative effects of the stress response. This means improved sleep, the potential to lose weight around your middle, and better overall health.

As with any supplement, it’s best to speak with your doctor before adding something new to your regimen. This is especially true if you are currently taking medications. Having said this, many doctors do not support the use of non-prescriptive supplements to treat mental health conditions and other diseases. You may want to find a nutritionist who can help you determine which adaptogen is right for you and what dosage to try.

Need someone to walk alongside you to help develop your personalized stress reduction plan? We’d love to help. Call today at 850.450.7223 or go to our website at www.believehopeinspire.com to find out more about us. One therapy session could help turn things around and get you back on track to living your best life!

Dianne Presley, LCSW, BC-TMH
Owner/Founder
Believe, Hope, Inspire Wellness Services LLC
Anxiety, Depression, Grief & Loss, and Relationship Therapy
Gottman Level 1 and Level 2 Training in Gottman Method Couples Therapy
Gottman Training in Traumas and Affairs and in Couples in Addiction
Gottman Educator in 7 Principles for Making Marriage Work and Bringing Baby Home
Certified Brain Based Success Coach
www.believehopeinspire.com
850.450.7223

Want to find out more about Sallie and her work? Check out her website at https://healingartsalliance.org/united-states/tallahassee/holistic-health-experts-and-specialists/sallie-dixon.