E.J. Sulc, formerly of Denver, has lived
in the North Platte area for four years. She is a licensed
para-medical esthetician
and received her medical assistant certification-administrative
assistant knowledge at Denver Technical College and owned and operated
Denver Acne Clinic for four years. She owns and operates Visage
Skin Clinic and Day Spa in North Platte.
Skin Care for
the busy traveler Get a Handle on Stress
by E.J. Sulc
Stress has been described as America’s No. 1 health
problem and job stress is the leading cause of stress for adults. I
see it firsthand every day in the Spa, as both my male and female clients
try to keep their lives in balance.
Stress levels have also escalated in children, teenagers and the elderly
for reasons such as the increased threat to personal safety, peer pressures,
social isolation and the erosion of family and community support.
Unfortunately, our bodies react to all kinds of stress with the fight or
flight response which is potentially damaging and sometimes deadly. Repeatedly
invoked, it isn’t hard to see how stress can contribute to hypertension,
strokes, heart attacks, chronic pain and other symptoms.
The following solutions may seem a bit simplistic, but a combination of
mindful activities can reduce the stress response in your life. Let’s
take a look at a few causes and solutions to the stress in our lives.
In his book, “A More Excellent Way,” Dr. Henry Wright states,
“Type A behavior involves drivenness, performance and perfectionism. Many
of them are recognizable as workaholics and many times a root can include
fear of poverty and need to succeed in
order to be loved, that is, to
be accepted because of a success. Another is the expectation put on
someone by a parent or a spouse can produce a type of anxiety.”
Stress can be exhausting and can show itself in mental, emotional, physical
and spiritual symptoms.
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken
spirit drieth the bones,” cautions Proverbs 17:22.
Perfectionism will lead to a critical spirit, but a spirit of excellence
will allow you to do your best and let God do the rest. Meditation done
first thing in the morning – not on what needs to be done, but on
the possibilities your day holds for you or, better yet, a scripture or
motivational saying – can give you a whole new perspective on what
really is important.
“By consciously choosing to slow down
(think eye pillow, spa salts, neck rest) and take time to care for ourselves
(think body wrap, body balm, body oil and massage), we begin to heal. In
time comfort gives way to profound relaxation, finally yielding to rejuvenation
and renewal,” said Judy Day, R.N., founder and president of DreamTime.
Learn how to relax. Most headaches are tension headaches and/or dehydration. Because
we carry our tension in our shoulders, jaw, brow, neck, back and buttocks,
try to become more mindful of your posture when you sit, sleep and especially
when you drive. By keeping your chin pulled back over your chest instead
of out over your steering wheel or key board, you allow your spine to be
in a more relaxed position. Sleep on your back with a pillow under your
knees. Not only will this give your spine a chance to straighten out, but
many facial and neck wrinkles are caused during sleep. Remember, we
spend a third of our lives in bed.
Puffy eyes can be caused by toxins pooling in the sinus area during sleep.
Use a cold wash cloth or eye pillow to alleviate this symptom. If your
pillow doesn’t support your neck well enough, roll a wash cloth and
put it in the curve of your neck, making sure it’s comfortable so
as not to cause pain or injury. Special facial pillows are available for
side sleepers that are designed to support your face or neck.
And make sure to drink half your weight (i.e. 150 lbs = 75 ounces) in ounces
of water a day. Don’t worry about how often you flush toxins;
its better then keeping them in your
body.
Breathing is something we all do but rarely think about. Men are shallow
breathers so they should take a minute before a stressful presentation to
take deep breaths in through their mouth and out of their nose. Interestingly,
smokers stop doing this when they quit.
Adrenalin and cortisol are oxidants that cause disease by creating free
radicals that damage your cells. Exercise burns these poisons and toxins
and defuses stress. If home is a part of your stress, exercise before
you go home.
For women, stress produces cortisol and burns progesterone, which causes
hot flashes. In addition to exercise, women should consider adding more
soy based products.
One interesting side note is that in some Asian countries there is no word
for what we refer to as “hot flashes.” This American symptom
is typically due to diet. Proper nutrition is important: Ginseng, Evening
Primrose, Omega fatty acids, B vitamins and Selenium may help to lower
blood sugars and balance hormones. Instead of pop, caffeine and sugar choose
water, green tea, veggie juice, fruits, nuts and protein bars.
And, finally, laughter. You can’t laugh and be stressed at the same
time. Laughter increases the immune system. So as you’re
driving down the road after a nice walk, workout or visit to the spa, drinking
a fresh bottle of water, munching on dehydrated fruits and nuts and with
your chin pulled back, take a deep breath and give yourself a little giggle
as you meditate on a scripture or positive saying, because you’re
on the way to a less stressful way of life.
NPTSummer 2004 Issue
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