Stress / Anxiety / Fatigue
Stress occurs when an event triggers a stress response. There are many ways that the body will try to bring itself back into balance, and different people respond differently to the same stress stimuli.
We run to catch our prey and find speed we didn’t have; we blush when we feel attraction; we go weak in the knees when we get on stage – there are countless ways that mental stress can cause physical changes, but these extend far beyond these basic reactions. Chronic or overwhelming circumstances can cause profound negative changes to your health. The things that you carry on your mind and in your heart can manifest in your body. Whether they are temporary stressors or difficult personal circumstances they can all impact your physical and mental health.
Stressors can be anything from work, finances, relationships, lack of sleep, lack of exercise, lack of nutrients, and exposure to environmental toxins.
You may have had the experience of feeling that your “well has run dry.” What does this old colloquialism mean? Over time when we over-use our stress response, it can begin to change cortisol levels and cause a cascade of physical effects. The physical symptoms you experience as a result of chronic stress are termed “adrenal fatigue” or “adrenal stress”. These effects of stress can be profound – it can cause weight gain, high or low blood pressure, dizziness, fatigue, mood changes, difficulty concentrating, lack of libido, horrible sleep patterns, joint and muscle aches, and compromised immune function.
We hear you and your stories. We see that many of you deal with very stressful circumstances- or even temporary stressful events. We cannot change the circumstances of your life, but we can help you protect and heal the physical impact. Whether you are in the midst of a stressful situation or recovering from one, it is important to support your body as it tries to regulate and regain balance.
The relationship between diet, physical activity and stress is a deeply interconnected cycle. When we are stressed, most people tend to crave and indulge in more quick fixes.
Diet and nutrition play a large role in the body’s stress levels. Stress often leads people to reach for the most convenient food, one that normally does not have much nutritional value (which is in and of itself a stressor). This just makes things worse, as the body needs good nutrition to balance the effects of the stress response.
Without good nutrition and in the presence of chronic stress, the body is destined for a variety of stress related problems.
Anxiety can have a variety of root causes from genetic to biological to environmental. We focus on treating the whole person, and on addressing the underlying causes of the condition. We have a deep toolbox of evidence-based, natural therapies including clinical nutrition, and herbs to draw from.
