According to a latest survey report, almost 9 out of 10 people suffer from stress. This is one of the most common problems from which people suffer nowadays. The saddest part is that people in all age groups undergo stress at one point of time in their lives. This increasing amount of stress is taking a toll on the physical as well as mental health of people. Work is getting hampered – both at personal and professional levels. And this is compiling to added stress. In this situation, it is important to find the root cause of the stress and deal with it.
Causes of Stress
There are innumerable reasons, which contribute to stress in people. Some of the most common ones include:
- Monetary Issues – Financial problem is one great contributing factor for stress. Not being able to earn sufficiently for the family, impending debt, rent etc can put great pressure on an individual. It is quite sad to know the monetary issue stresses cannot be handled by all and many people take adverse steps in lives to get rid of the problem.
- Personal Problems – Various things can be categorized under personal problems, including health issues, emotional problems, life changing events and relationships. Personal health problems or health issues of a loved one can leave one stressed. The problem can be due to aging, negative symptoms, diagnosis of a new disease or development of complications in existing illness. Differences and arguments with family or within friends can also cause immense stress. There are many people who do not have any outlet for emotional release and the depression caused by this adds to the stress factor greatly. Along with these, life changing events also cause stress. These include bereavement, job changing, shifting houses, death of loved one, pregnancy, marriage etc.
- Occupational Stress – Job stress is on the rise, latest report confirms. To survive in the cut-throat world of competition, it is important that you outdo the others in any way possible. In your professional arena, there is constant pressure and conflict which you have to handle. This adds to abundant stress for a person, who is already stressed due to other factors.
- Environmental Stress – Everyone is concerned about the well being of their loved ones. Unsafe neighborhoods, increasing crime and other safety issues might contribute to stress greatly. Moreover, personal beliefs, religious followings and political views can lead to conflicts and cause stress.
[ Read: How To Get Rid of Stress Caused By Finances ]
Symptoms of Stress
Most of the time, we tend to ignore symptoms which are directly related to stress. In fact, we think of other things which might cause the symptoms. Here are some symptoms that you can check for stress:
- Lack of focus and motivation
- Social withdrawal
- Headache
- Sleep disorders
- Anger and irritability
- Outbursts
- Under-eating or over-eating
- Addiction to tobacco, alcohol or drugs
- Stomach upset
- Fatigue
- Chest pain and pain in muscles
- Lower sex drive
- Sadness and depression
- Constant restlessness
- Suicidal thoughts and crying spells
[ Read: How Stress Affects Your Oral Health ]
10 Home Remedies for Dealing With Stress
Instead of popping pills to deal with stress and anxiety, why not choose some natural ways to get rid of this vice from your life? Try these home remedies and see how they help in doing away with stress effectively without any side effects.
1. Epsom Salt
People who are under high stress levels can definitely try Epsom salts for calming down. This ingredient has proved to be highly effective in treating stress by increasing adrenaline levels and lowering magnesium levels in the body. With high content of magnesium, the mood-elevating chemical serotonin is increased in the brain. It helps in making one relaxed, reduces stress and anxiety, abnormal heart rhythms, insomnia and irritability.
How to use:
In a large tub of warm bathwater, add a few drops of aromatic essential oil and about a cup of Epsom salt. See that the salt granules dissolve completely. Take a soaking bath for 20 minutes and repeat it 2-3 times a week.
[ Read: How Music Reduces Stress ]
2. Sage
Sage leaves have shown to have great stress-relieving properties. People who suffer from stress be it work related or otherwise, can obtain great relief from drinking tea made from sage leaves.
How to use:
To make the tea, dried sage leaves are needed. Take a cup of water and add 1 teaspoon of dried sage leaves to it and boil. Take off heat and cover the vessel. Let the leaves steep for 10 minutes. Drink the tea after straining and you will feel relaxed soon. Add honey as a sweetener in the tea.
[ Read: How To Make A Stress Ball At Home? ]
3. Holy Basil
If you want to control and treat stress and other related problems, holy basil is a must try. This anti stress agent can be found easily and is highly effective. You can simply chew a few freshly plucked leaves or make yourself a concoction and drink it in the morning.
How to use:
Take 10-12 basil leaves and chew them thoroughly. Practice this two times a day. The juice from the holy basil leaves help in releasing tension and calms the disturbed nerves as well.
To make a cup of herbal tea of basil, simply add a few leaves into the vessel you brew your tea with milk and other ingredients. Strain and drink!
[ Read: How To Reduce Stress With Shoulder And Neck Self-Acupressure ]
4. St John’s Wort
St John’s Wort is a very popular remedy for treating stress and anxiety. It is available in the form of pills as well as in liquid form. It acts as a relaxant and soothes your nerves and senses almost instantly.
How to use:
Consume St John’s pill or liquid twice a day for best results. On taking this herb regularly, you will enjoy enhanced mood levels. The herb helps in treating anxiety and stress related disorders in an effective manner without any kinds of side effects. It can also be consumed if you suffer from sleeplessness due to stress and anxiety.
[ Read: How Do You Manage Holiday Stress? ]
5. Chamomile Tea
Chamomile tea has proved to be highly effective in reducing stress. The tea has a sedative effect on the central nervous system. As a result, the tea has soothing and calming effect on the person drinking the same. The muscles become relaxed, anxiety is eased and one can have better sleep with chamomile tea. It is permissible to drink almost 4 cups of chamomile tea daily as a remedy for fighting stress.
How to use:
Take a cup of hot water and add 2 teaspoons of dried chamomile leaves in it. Let it steep for about 10 minutes. Add raw honey to the tea and drink for best results. Chamomile can also be taken in the form of supplement.
6. Echinacea
The immune system in the body is greatly affected due to stress. This is the reason that a stressed person is highly susceptible to various kinds of diseases and ailments. It is important to strengthen the immunity system when one is under great stress. Echinacea is well known as an immune system booster. Moreover, the herb has also shown great results in treating the problem of stress and anxiety effectively and also reduces side effects of stress on the body.
This herb that also helps in curing herpes and other yeast infections can be bought in pressed juice form. 5 to 9 ml of the juice is all you need to combat with stress naturally.
7. Vital Nutrients For Removing Stress
If you want to relieve symptoms like irritability and anxiety from the body, it is important to provide the body with required nutrients like Vitamin A and B and many other kinds of minerals like calcium, potassium and magnesium.
How to use:
Include lots of green and yellow leafy vegetables in the diet to increase the intake of Vitamin A. For abundant Vitamin B in the body eat green leafy vegetables, bananas, sprouts, nuts, etc. Potassium helps in controlling fatigue, breathlessness and insomnia and this deficiency can be reduced by intake by nuts and whole grains. To prevent heart attacks, it is important to have magnesium in the diet and this can be obtained from bananas, prunes, dates, seeds etc.
[ Read: How To Reduce Stress with Foods ]
8. Potent Herbal Tea
When you are highly stressed, a cup of potent herbal tea can really work well for you. It helps in relieving the mind and body from the effects of stress.
How to use:
Take an ounce of lemon balm, rosemary, marshmallow root, lavender, passion flower and kava kava and mix all of them well. In a cup of boiling water, add a tablespoon of this mixture and let it steep for 15 minutes. Strain the contents and enjoy the cup of herbal tea.
9. Blueberries
An extremely rich source of antioxidants, blueberries help in reducing stress levels considerably. Moreover, blueberries also contain Vitamin E and Vitamin C along with manganese and magnesium, which play a pivotal role in reducing stress. Symptoms like insomnia, depression and other mood disorders can also be reduced with regular intake of blueberries.
Consume a handful of the berries or add them to fruit salads or cottage cheese. Cranberries have also shown great results in reducing stress.
10. Peppermint Tea
The cool and soothing effect of peppermint is really helpful in dealing with stress effectively. Instead of sipping on your regular tea, try peppermint tea. This tea helps in relieving you from all kinds of stress and anxiety and lets you be calm and composed. Peppermint tea can also take care of the indigestion, which is caused due to stress in the body.
All the above mentioned ingredients are readily available in almost every household and in the market. Try these as they have great results in reducing stress without causing any potent side effects.
If you have any home remedy, please do share it in the comments.