Getting rid of excessive stress with regular exercise.
Very few people in today’s world can claim that they are not affected by stress. Chronic stress has a terrible impact on individuals, businesses, and societies. In addition, stress can wreck human relationships and break up families.
It can cause physical ailments and absenteeism from the work place, which has adverse effects on a nation’s economy and an individual’s financial condition. Today, great efforts are made to solve the problem of stress.
What happens when you feel stressed?
Whenever you experience stress, your body releases a hormone called Adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), which actually provides extra energy and gets the body ready for the ordeals ahead. Science calls this the “flight or fight” mechanism of the human body. Whenever an individual is faced with a problem, the body releases this energy-boosting hormone so that the individual can either fight the battle or fly away to avoid it.
For example, a person involved in an accident undergoes severe stress. ACTH comes to the rescue of such an individual, providing the extra energy that he needs to escape the wreck. This sudden powerful ‘fight or flight’ response helps people in getting out of the car, helping others at the scene or developing super human strength to move objects they wouldn’t be able to move under normal circumstances.
In the past, people had a greater need for ACTH because most problems could be solved by either fighting or running away. Today, you can neither fight nor run away. If you experience stress at the workplace, you cannot resolve the situation by punching your boss in the jaw or walking out on the job. Because of this switch in human makeup and laws that govern society, ACTH remains unused in the bloodstream. The body’s inability to use this naturally occurring chemical has adverse effects on individuals. When you are exposed to ACTH for a long time, you can develop serious health issues such as ulcers, hypertension, and cardiac problems.
Exercise is a natural way to reduce stress and hypertension.
Reasons Why Exercise is Important:
The best way to flush this unwanted ACTH from you system is to exercise regularly. By exercising, you are mimicking the “flight or fight” response. Exercise at least half an hour everyday. There are many varieties of exercises and you can choose any one that suits you. This could be walking, swimming, running, rowing or just about any physical activity that boosts your heart rate.
If the thought of getting more physically active to combat stress makes sense to you, consider joining a gym. Most gyms offer exciting classes in aerobics, circuit training, kick boxing, or fitness machines like treadmills, eliptical trainers and stationary bicycles. A gym is a sensible solution if you have the money to pay for a membership and you’re willing to exercise enough to get your money’s worth.
You might also consider team sports, which will improve not only your health, but also your social life. If you are not inclined to team sports, you can always look into other possibilities such as tennis and squash, which are great ways to exercise. Golf is another game that reduces stress.
Don’t overlook the simple benefits of walking. Walking is the best way to exercise and relax at the same time. More importantly, walking is a low-impact activity that can enhance your life.
Any kind of physical movement is beneficial to stress management, if only a gentle walk to get you outside breathing. Try a yoga or tai chi class, dancing to your favourite music, doing the cleaning or the gardening or just playing in the back yard with your child or the family dog. Or you could consider working for a volunteering organisation or a structured exercise plan with a qualified fitness trainer.
Many studies have found that movement is the most effective self-help strategy for those who suffer from depression. The benefits are numerous, not least of which is the release of endorphins in the brain, and sometimes even achieving what athletes term “the zone”, that blissful state where everything feels right with the world and you can handle anything.
Definitely try skipping; it’s near impossible to be stressed when you’re skipping.
How you exercise isn’t that important. Incorporating exercise into your life is. You’ll be surprised at how much you can relieve stress with less than an hour of exercise every day. In addition to stress relief, exercise has added benefits of better cardiac health, weight control and a more peaceful state of mind.
So what are you waiting for? Start fighting stress with exercise today!
Highly recommended Reading:
Effects of Stress on the Body
http://stress-self-help.com/effects-of-stress-on-the-body
Simple tips on how to manage with stress in your life
http://stress-self-help.com/reduce-stress-tips
Find out how to relieve stress naturally
http://stress-self-help.com/relieve-stress
