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HEALTH&FITNESS
302
January14
Despite the
signals people
don’t often identify
their problems as
stress
The next time you are feeling stressed, try this:
1.
Focus on the moment.
Ask yourself: Will this really matter in two or
five years’ time?
2.
Keep the situation in perspective.
A child’s daily spelling mistakes
may be inconsequential when children in the Philippines have lost their
schools in a typhoon. Gratitude for what you have can mitigate stressful
thoughts.
3.
Breathe.
Even if you can’t close your eyes, perhaps because you’re
driving, take 10 deep breaths. Try to relax the muscles in different areas
of your body as you do so.
4.
Look at the situation froma different point of view.
There’s a flipside
to every situation, and perhaps even a hidden opportunity if you open
up your mind.
Nancy says unchecked mental stress
has negative consequences, sometimes
resulting in physical symptoms and even
psychosomatic illnesses. While some
people view hypnotherapy sceptically,
much research has shown it to be
successful in behaviour modification
and change.
“Hypnotherapy is a safe, effective
and practical way to work with the mind
directly. While in a hypnotic, trance-like
state, people are calm, focussed and
often more receptive to suggestion,”
says Nancy. She believes hypnosis
unlocks subconscious information,
such as our fears. “Finding the root
cause, especially the fear factor, is the
first step to deprogramming and then
reprogramming the subconscious
mind to deal with the fear, instead of
perceiving it as a ‘sabre-toothed tiger’.”
Nancy reinforces her work by teaching
patients self-hypnosis techniques to
help them relax mentally. Using positive
affirmations helps people remain
optimistic. “I believe having a positive
mindset can help people to view and
deal with their problems as situations,
rather than as life-and-death issues,”
she says.
Unlocking the spine
Stress is the most prolific problem that
Dr Lynelle Kerr
sees at her private
practice,
Innate
. But despite the signals,
she says, people don’t often identify
their problems as stress. “Often, during
a consultation the high-achieving, type-A
people say, ‘I’m not stressed, but I have
some physical symptoms going on and
I can’t sleep’. I say, ‘Are you stressed?’
They often say, ‘No’.”
But, Lynelle says, deeper discussion
reveals a stressful lifestyle that requires
juggling a career, intensive travel and
family. “Even high achievers complain