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Hi Folks!

Welcome back to the winter edition of Psy-Santé's newsletter.

We are nearing the end of a long tough winter in Canada . Often winter is a difficult time for many due to the shortage of daylight, the cold dreary days and the seemingly interminable hibernation phase that we put ourselves through.

Winter, according to many philosophies represents a time to go within and seek insight, knowledge, answers. It is a time where we need to eat and do things that are warming to the body, and spirit. It is recommended to stay dry and away from cold and humid sources. Eat soups and stews. Remember to rest and play. Make sure you can spend time with yourself, friends and family. Keep smiling and know that spring time is around the corner. However if Mother Nature or the Universe decides to throw us another snowstorm in the late winter months, then smile and go out and make a snowman. Don't let winter stress you out!

This newsletter focuses on stress.
This word makes us tense up just thinking about it.
Stress has the notorious reputation of being responsible for many problems that we have. It has become such an acceptable and normal excuse to say: 'I am so stressed!' It is almost as if we seek silent acceptance and compassion from others as soon as we state that we are victims of it!
Well, stress is a neat concept but it remains subjective.
We all respond differently to similar circumstances. It is not the event that makes it stressful, but our choice of responses. That is right... Our choice of responses.
In other words, we have the choice to be stressed or not.
In any case, when we feel stressed, it is our personal responsibility to deal with it, before it deals us health problems. Did you know that 85% of ALL health problems are stress-related? A new syndrome that many of us can relate to is adrenal fatigue. The article below well describes this common condition in our society.

How can we get a better handle on stress? There exist as many remedies for stress as there are symptoms. My suggestion is to pick something simple, that you are likely to repeat and obviously that works for you. My article on micro-stress-management will provide you with a few coping ideas.

Keep smiling,

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Today's answer to the lack of time to relax

Written by Stephane Bensoussan , MA , Holistic Psychologist

Everyone can relate to experiencing stress in one form or another. Stress management techniques are known to be incredibly effective- when they are used. Many people who are stressed just can't find the time required to do a full relaxation technique or do a yoga class. Micro-stress management can be a less daunting and effective solution.

Micro-stress management involves taking little bites out of stress on a frequent basis throughout the day. One effective micro-stress management tool is called conscious breathing. This technique involves taking a mere 30 seconds of every hour of the day to breathe consciously.

At the exact time each hour, simply bring your complete awareness to your breath. It is preferable but not essential that you close your eyes. Be aware of your breath and the process of inhalation and exhalation. Notice how your chest and abdomen move. Gently direct the breath to flow in and out in a gentle and regular fashion from the abdomen. Repeat it for 30 seconds and return to what you were doing. This technique can be done at your desk, in a meeting, while walking from one office to another, while doing groceries, or in the car. It can be done just about anywhere- even in public without anyone ever taking notice.

You may realize that this short pause is sufficient to start feeling the benefits of relaxation. Your entire nervous system will slow down, and your brain will be lightened and de-cluttered. It may quiet the busy-ness of your mind and give you more mental sharpness. With a clearer mind, you'll gain energy and then the rest will seem to fall into place. This pause will remind you that you are a human being, not a walking stress machine, and stress-related problems will seem easier to tackle. This technique is not meant to put you to sleep, but merely to 'take the edge off' your anxiety. When repeated throughout the day, and then throughout the week, you'll see that you feel more equipped to handle stressful situations more effectively. Obviously this technique may not solve your stress problem but it will provide you with a simple tool to give you a better handle on stress. If you find that 30 seconds is not enough, try it for 60 seconds every hour.

Regular practice of this conscious breathing technique is a great way to improve overall health and well-being, promote a stronger immune system, and improve your ability to counter the effects of stress. Waiting until the end of the day to relax isn't always enough to overcome the negative impact of stress. It is often stressful in itself to find the time, the 30 minutes per day, to decompress. However, training your body and your mind to recognize its need to unwind a little every hour will encourage you to gain more awareness on the effects of stress on your body and how to deal with them effectively and quickly. If practiced often enough, your body will develop an appetite for slowing down; in the same way it knows it gets hungry for food at a certain time of day.

Just imagine how 30 seconds of slow and regular breaths per hour can help your entire nervous system slow down and in turn, help your health, job, interactions with others, and overall life satisfaction. Learning to breathe consciously will become habitual and you'll soon see that saving your energy for all the pleasurable moments in life is a lot more rewarding than wasting it on fighting stress!

Written by Stephane Bensoussan , MA  

© 2005

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