Stress Management Toronto
When we ask our naturopathic doctors what is the most common health issue they see, their answer is often stress.
Therefore, the quickest way to better health is often implementing some stress management techniques in your life.
That’s especially important in a big, busy city like Toronto.
How Can I Decrease Stress Without Pills?
There are many ways to reduce stress without taking medication. Here are a few ideas:
- Exercise: Regular physical activity can help to reduce stress and improve your overall well-being.
- Practice relaxation techniques: There are many relaxation techniques you can try, such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga.
- Get plenty of sleep: Lack of sleep can increase stress, so it's important to get enough rest.
- Eat a healthy diet: A healthy diet can help to improve your mood and reduce stress.
- Talk to someone: Sharing your thoughts and feelings with a trusted friend or family member can be a great way to relieve stress.
- Take breaks: Take regular breaks from work or other activities to relax and recharge.
- Get organized: Being organized can help to reduce stress by making it easier to manage your time and responsibilities.
- Set realistic goals: Setting unrealistic goals can lead to added stress, so it's important to be realistic and aim for achievable objectives.
- Learn to say no: It's important to set boundaries and not take on more than you can handle.
- Find activities you enjoy: Engaging in activities you enjoy, such as hobbies or spending time with loved ones, can help to reduce stress and improve your overall well-being.
What Happens to Your Body When You Are Stressed?
When you are stressed, your body goes into a state of "fight or flight" in response to a perceived threat. This triggers a release of stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol, which can have various effects on your body.
Some common physical symptoms of stress include:
- Increased heart rate
- Tight muscles
- Headaches
- Upset stomach
- Difficulty sleeping
Long-term stress can have more serious effects on your body, such as an increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, and weakened immune system. It is important to find healthy ways to manage stress in order to maintain good physical and mental health.
Can Naturopaths Help with Stress?
Naturopathic medicine is a form of alternative medicine that focuses on natural remedies and the body's ability to heal itself. Naturopathic doctors may use a variety of treatments to help patients manage stress, including:
- Herbal medicine: Naturopathic doctors may recommend herbs that have calming or relaxing properties, such as chamomile, lavender, or valerian.
- Nutritional counseling: A naturopathic doctor may suggest changes to your diet to help manage stress, such as increasing your intake of certain nutrients or avoiding certain foods that may contribute to stress.
- Lifestyle counseling: Naturopathic doctors may provide advice on lifestyle changes that can help reduce stress, such as exercise, sleep, and time management.
- Homeopathic remedies: Homeopathic remedies are diluted substances that may be used to stimulate the body's own healing response. Naturopathic doctors may use homeopathic remedies to help manage stress.
- Acupuncture: Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves inserting needles into specific points on the body to stimulate healing. It may be helpful in reducing stress and promoting relaxation.
It is important to note that naturopathic medicine should not be used as a replacement for medical care from a licensed healthcare professional. If you are experiencing stress and are seeking treatment, it is important to consult with a qualified healthcare provider.
Decrease Stress At Our Toronto Clinic
The goal isn’t to get rid of stress entirely, but using stress management strategies is often all that’s needed. You can reduce your stress to the point where many of your other health issues are reduced substantially as well.
Stress plays a huge role in our health. It changes the way our heart and our body function from moment to moment.
Stress can deplete vitamins and minerals in the body. And cause you to have other symptoms in terms of sleep and fatigue. It creates an additional weight that is bearing down on the body.
If you are able to address stress (maybe you have a constant source of stress, our maybe it’s a period of time of transition that you are going through) and if you have someone who can support you through that and direct you to the right things you could be doing during those times, it can significantly decrease your experience of that stress, and help you thrive through it.
- Stress symptoms. Many people feel chronic, low-grade stress that stays under the radar for awhile. But it can eventually lead to palpitations, difficulty breathing, headaches, insomnia, and fatigue.
- Left nostril breathing. Breathing through the left nostril will help activate your parasympathetic system. You close your right nostril and breathe through your left one for four seconds, hold it for four seconds, and then release the breath through the left nostril again for four seconds. You can do that for anywhere from ten to fifteen minutes as long as you’re not getting lightheaded, and it’s very good for relaxing the nervous system.
- Naturopathic treatment. Naturopathic care strives to provide relief to the mind and body through holistic methods. Dietary changes, herbs, nutritional supplementation and acupuncture can make a big dent in reducing stress.
- Conventional versus naturopathic medicine. Conventional medicines can be addictive and cause side effects. Naturopathic medicines such as herbs aren’t addictive, don’t have adverse side effects, and actually promote health in your body.
If you’re looking for help with stress management, contact us at 416-792-4400 or by using the form below and we’ll book you for a FREE 15-minute phone or in-person consultation with one of our naturopathic doctors.
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