Are you heading for an unhappy Stressmas?
It may be dubbed the hap-happiest season of all, but there’s no doubting the fact that the approach of the festive period also serves to ramp up the stress levels – and in the current economic climate, that’s likely to be truer than ever this year.
For all the fairy lights, tinsel and goodwill that are at the heart of this time of the year, the Christmas period brings with it trepidation, pressure, expense, and a whole load of anxiety as everyone rushes around to get everything done.
In the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, our stress levels are already elevated as we all try to stay in control of what we spend on heating, power, and food – but in some ways that increases the tendency to see the holidays as a little oasis of normality in an otherwise turbulent world.
What that means in practice is that unconsciously many people will try make sure the problems we’re all facing don’t also ruin Christmas – so a lot of us will probably set out to create a festive season that looks and feels the same as it has done in previous years.
That’s all a matter of personal choice – for those who celebrate Christmas, and especially those with very young children, there may be good reasons for wanting to insulate the holiday period from the wider problems that life throws at us. No one should judge anyone for wanting that.
But that doesn’t help to deal with the increased stress that many of us are likely to feel as we head into December and close in on the big day.
What is stress and why can it be dangerous?
First of all, let’s be clear – not all stress is bad. In fact, manageable and short-lived episodes of stress can be a good thing.
They keep the body safe by ensuring we’re alert to physical threats, they improve alertness and performance, and because they stimulate stem cell growth, they have been shown to improve memory.
It’s when we are exposed to extended or chronic stress episodes that we start to put our physical and mental health at risk.
Stress – along with anxiety – is ultimately a function of the subconscious, which is our psychological protector. If you’re into Game of Thrones, then you can think of the subconscious as the Night’s Watch, always on duty and alert to any danger that threatens us physically or mentally.
When the subconscious perceives we are in danger, it triggers the release of a stress hormone called cortisol which is designed to put us on alert. And this trigger continues to operate until the subconscious is satisfied the perceived threat has passed.
This response is primeval, dating back millions of years to a time when humans were not the apex predators that they are today but were, instead, prey.
And this continuous production of the stress hormone at times of risk is important when we try to understand the longer-term impact of stress, because if the only job of the subconscious is to protect us, then it will keep us in this state of heightened anxiety until it considers it safe to stand down.
If the threat – which for most people today is no longer about being physically harmed but is instead more likely to be linked to security around health, finance, and happiness – is ongoing (or if you can’t identify what’s causing it and deal with it), then those stress hormones will continue to be produced.
What happens to us physically when we get stressed for too long?
Most of us have felt stressed at one time or another, and the symptoms are probably very familiar – your pulse and heart rate quicken through the production of adrenaline, your blood pressure rises, the body produces more sugar to fuel an increase in energy.
As I’ve already said, for short periods this can be the difference between life and death or the difference between good and poor performance.
But cortisol also curbs functions that would be nonessential or harmful in a fight-or-flight situation. It alters immune system responses and suppresses the digestive system, the reproductive system and growth processes. This natural biological alarm system also alters mood, motivation, and fear.
When we’re suffering with stress overload, we put ourselves at an increased risk of many physiological and psychological problems, including:
• Anxiety
• Heart disease, heart attack, high blood pressure and stroke
• Depression
• Headaches
• Weight gain
• Muscle tension and pain
• Digestive problems
• Sleep problems
• Reduced memory and concentration function
How can acupuncture help me to control stress?
Acupuncture helps energy flow and relieves stress and anxiety by releasing endorphins, the brain’s natural happy hormone, into your system.
By stimulating particular points on the body through the use of painless superfine needles inserted into the skin, acupuncture also promotes blood circulation, oxygenating tissue more effectively and efficiently and removing cortisol and other toxins.
Even better, acupuncture is a highly relaxing treatment which allows your body the space and time to dial down stress levels, leaving you in a much calmer state. This naturally results in a reduction of blood pressure, pulse rate, and muscle tension.
If you’re currently on course for a festive season that’s likely to happen at a hundred miles an hour, maybe it’s already time to take your foot off the throttle and reclaim control of your stress levels – you may find you’ll have a happier Christmas rather than an unhappy Stressmas!
If you’d like to learn more about acupuncture for stress in London, or would like to book a consultation or treatment, why not get in touch for an informal, friendly, and confidential chat?