Stress

Bendee · #1 (**permalink**) 5th November 2006, 09:23 PM

Stress
There are many methods and modalities which can temporarily relieve
stress--and I am all for temporary relief. It is, however, also
important to look at the underlying causes of stress.

Who's Doing It to You?

It is usual to think that stress has external causes. You have a
high-pressure job, all of your children have problems, we live in a
fast-paced, ever-changing world. All of the above may be true; however,
people respond to potentially stress-producing situations in different
ways, based on their personalities.

I have also noticed that often people add stress to their lives. Why
does someone who is a volunteer for several organizations (and
complaining about not having enough time) join a new one? Why do some
people turn a minor annoyance into a major catastrophe? Is it possible
that stress has its benefits?

I have known people who recounted the number of things they had to
accomplish during a given day or week. While they voiced concern over
their schedule and sometimes declared that they were surely headed for a
nervous breakdown there were undertones of satisfaction and pride in
their voices. They felt important.

If someone has twenty-four projects going on at once she must be
special, clever, and terribly interesting. If everyone has to call
someone for advice he must be a great listener and a wise person.

Stress also creates a barrier to being in touch with our real feelings,
and if we don't to know what we're feeling, what's really bothering us,
stress is our best friend. Ultimately, though, it's our worst enemy, for
the suppression of feelings which need to be felt, expressed, and
released, only builds up more stress.

People who would never ask friends or family for relief may use their
stressed-out condition as a silent (or not-so-silent) cry for help.
Others may overwork in an attempt to win love from those whom they
serve.

De-Stressing

Those who would like to have more calmness and serenity in their lives
will benefit from examining the internal sources of stress in their
lives before looking at the external sources. The above examples may
provide some clues, and I have also described below some strong
personality characteristics associated with certain kinds of stress.

Weight of the World: This individual takes on not only her problems but
those of people close to her. If there's a family crisis she takes
charge out of a strong sense of duty. She will go on after mere mortals
have dropped, but there is not much joy in her fulfillment of
responsibility.

Oak is the Bach Flower remedy for this state of being. It helps in
developing flexibility and vitality, and aids people in finding creative
solutions to problems. Most important, it helps them to be able to ask
others for help in problem solving.

Overwhelmed: Unlike Oak people, these people have genuine enthusiasm for
their responsibilities. Their difficulty comes when they take on more
than they can handle, and they feel like failures.

Their basic problem is that they over-identify with their
responsibilities and don't allow themselves to step into different, and
more relaxed, identities. Elm (Bach) helps them to learn to play.

Saving the World: These are people responsible not just for families or
organizations, but for the world, and they take on this task with more
enthusiasm than an Elm person could imagine. They have the answer and
want to enroll everyone in their solutions.

Vervain (Bach) returns enthusiasm to human levels. Those who benefit
from it are able to pursue their enthusiasms without a crowd of
supporters, and they develop the ability to appreciate other points of
view and paths.

Procrastinators: Perhaps one of the most stress-inducing experiences is
to know that there's something you have to do, maybe even something
you'd really like to do, but you don't. You think about it a lot, you
worry about it, you get angry at yourself for not doing it. And you
don't.

You know who you are. And we are all procrastinators in certain areas of
life. Cayenne (FES) , fondly referred to as the jump-start flower
essence, can get you in motion

Thoughts Going Round and Round
(The Exercise Wheel Syndrome)

It's the middle of the night and you can't sleep because you've thought
of something to worry about, and you can't stop thinking and worrying.
Get up and take some White Chestnut (Bach). It helps to smooth out the
broken and scratchy record of your mind.

The Life of the Party

You're happy, you're entertaining. People who think they know you would
describe you as someone without a care. What they don't know is that you
are really a sensitive person who doesn't want to burden others with
your suffering, and that you don't want to face your feelings, either.
You may use alcohol or drugs to avoid feelings.

The Agrimony (Bach) remedy helps those who can benefit from it to
realize that in the long run it's easier to face one's feelings than to
ceaselessly (and stressfully) run away from them. You will still be
sensitive, and now find that the harmony you tried to create externally
is now within you.

Stress Relievers

Taking the appropriate flower essence can do a lot to relieve stress,
especially if each time you take you remind yourself that your intention
is to become stress-free. If you feel too stressed to figure out which
flower essence is best for you start with Rescue Remedy (Bach) the
all-purpose essence.

Appropriate exercise is also very helpful. Walking, swimming, yoga, and
tai chi can be relaxing. In my experience exercise machines and weight
lifting sometimes have the opposite effect--but, remember, that's only
my experience.

Take deep breaths every time you feel stress overload coming on. Breathe
deeply until you feel calm again.

Meditate. If you find that this is difficult for you because thoughts
and worries keep on distracting you, you're a candidate for White
Chestnut (see above). You may also find that a guided meditation tape is
the easiest way for you to slide into the positive habit of meditation.

Crystals can also make meditation easier, as well as helping generally
in stress.

Amethyst is the most popular crystal for stress relief, and probably one
of the best for meditation (to use it for this purpose it is best placed
on the third eye [between and slightly above the other two]). Not only
are its energies calming, but it can help us to realize that the chaotic
merry-go-round of daily human existence is not all that we are. With
amethyst we can remember that we are souls in physical clothing.

Chrysocolla also helps to convey this message. Often known as the peace
stone, it helps to communicate a feeling of tranquility. This versatile
stone can be placed either on the heart chakra or the throat for calming
purposes.

I have noticed that many people carry hematite as a worry stone, and the
smoothness of this crystal makes it very suitable for the purpose. It is
also value for its ability to keep us from taking on the emotions of
others (which can be a major source of stress). In meditation this stone
is most effectively placed at the base of the feet (it's good to have
two).

If impatience is one of your stress-producing patterns rhodonite can be
helpful. This is another crystal which I recommend carrying. In
meditation it can be placed on the heart chakra.

Tiger's eye fosters patience in helping us to take the long view. When
we leap into a situation or project before it's appropriate to do so we
can create much unnecessary stress. This stone can be placed on either
the first or third chakra in meditation.

Madeline · #2 (**permalink**) 6th November 2006, 11:35 PM

Thanks for sharing those de-stressing techniques. I sure can use them, bills, job related problem and relationship problems, uuuuuuggghhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!

Love,
Madeline

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