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Women between the
ages of 35-55 often experience an overload of stress that lead
to several changes. These changes affect physical, emotional and
mental health. Women today are trying to cram work, exercise,
and good nutrition into a 24 hour day, but at the same time they
are expected to be productive, nurturing, and even sexual, all
to be the ideal mother and wife. These women often complain of
fatigue, depression, PMS, weight gain, repeated flu-like
symptoms, cravings and anger. All in all they “don’t feel well”.
It is important
to know how to manage stress and not overwork your body. Your
adrenal glands keep you alert and functional. They are also
responsible for the fight-or-flight response and influence
protein, carbohydrate, fat metabolism, thyroid function and
cardiovascular health. When fight-or-flight response is active
everyday, your body’s hormones will be imbalanced. Therefore, it
is important to keep your adrenal hormones in sync. Otherwise,
your immune system will not function the way it should to help
you cope with stress and you will be more vulnerable to
illnesses.
Below is a list
of toxic stress that highlights what a working woman often goes
through during a day.
Dr.
Nisha Jackson’s list of Toxic Stress Event Consequence
| No exercise
|
Weight gain; no mental,
emotional or physical release for stress management.
|
| Waking up
late |
Excited, stress response,
increasing heart rate & blood pressure. |
| Poor
breakfast |
Low blood sugar causes
tiredness, irritability, mental slowness. |
| No
preparation |
Stress hormones in blood
rises at work, no plan for lunch, schedule is full,
anxiety builds up. |
| Inadequate
breathing |
Stress response increases;
brain gets less oxygen, affecting memory and
concentration, causing headaches. |
| No time to
recover |
Overscheduled days do not
allow time to recuperate from stress-hormone overload.
Mental exhaustion and depression set in. |
| No time for
friends |
No laughing, communication
or networking. Studies show that women friends help
counter stress & are a source of strength and comfort.
|
| No help at
home |
Increase
stress hormones, causing more fat storage, brain
fatigue, physical exhaustion, memory loss and immunity
suppression. |
| Loss of sex
drive |
No female can thoroughly
enjoy sex after a day of stress. Mental and physical
fatigue contributes to the loss of sex drive. |
TOP
10 WAYS TO ELIMINATE STRESS!
Keep hormones
balanced. Cortisol (the stress hormone) competes with
progesterone for the same receptor sites. Use of progesterone
crème can help!
REMEMBER: You can
control stress – don’t let it control you!
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