Five Natural Treatments for Stress

We all feel stress now and then.  What few realize is that there are steps anyone can take to manage and relive stress.

Stressed out has become part of our everyday language.Fifty years ago, had you told someone you were stressed out, they wouldn't have known what you were talking about and might even have questioned your knowledge of grammar! Rare is the individual today who doesn't get stressed out at least once a day.

Stress can lead to severe health problems, particularly with the 'type A' personality. Besides, stress produces unpleasant feelings in the body, headaches, as well as causing us to snap at others without reason. While your doctor might prescribe a medication to calm you down, it's always best to avoid prescription medicines if you can.

Here we offer five natural treatments for stress as opposed to medical treatments for stress and tension. They all work, so you can pick and choose as the mood strikes you. Of course, if you're really stressed out, do all five!

1. Physical exercise of any kind is one of the great remedies for stress.  If it's raining, get out the vacuum and give that rug the old one-two. Go over and over that rug until it's sparkling clean and you've taken that stress factor out on it, not the kids or your spouse. Surely there's a spot in the yard that needs to be weeded within an inch of it's life. Other physical tasks, like cleaning out the hall closet, can prove sufficiently distracting so that you'll be automatically diverted from whatever got you stressed. You also get satisfaction from how clean it is.

2. Journal writing is another of the time-honored treatments for stress. No, you don't need to be a writer to take advantage of this treatment. Maybe it's your boss or spouse who jumped on your case about whatever. Biting your tongue is what caused this stress, so now is the time to express yourself! Give that so-and-so all of your thoughts on the topic in your (private) journal. Works like a charm!

3. Lavender is an old time treatment for stress and is especially effective with stress headaches. For this remedy, there are several avenues. You can take a nap, lying on a lavender filled pillow, or you can make or buy a lavender filled eye cover. You can also take a few whiffs of essential oil of lavender and/or dab a drop on each of your temples.

4. Some treatment of stress should be interactive. Here's a variation on the journal writing entries. Write an email to a good friend and vent. Tell your friend up front to take it with a grain of salt. After all, we shouldn't take life too seriously too often. Have your venting. By the time you're done, you'll probably feel better already. You can send it or not, as your mood dictates. Ask for a funny joke or cartoon in their response. This way, you get a laugh too. Good for the soul.

5. Here's the be all and end all of natural treatments for stress: every time you feel yourself getting stressed out, make a note, in your journal, of what triggered the event. After just a few weeks, you'll see a pattern. Do you constantly worry about money? Your weight? Does someone at work drive you crazy? Not enough hours in the day? Once you've discovered your common stress triggers, implement a plan to eliminate these stress factors. Make a strict budget. Lose weight. Ignore, or make friends with that work mate. Whatever works.

These five natural treatments for stress do work. Try them, you'll like them!