An Ayurvedic Guide to Stress Management

IS STRESS PLAYING A BIGGER ROLE IN YOUR LIFE THAN YOU WOULD LIKE IT TO? FOR MOST OF US, THE ANSWER TO THAT QUESTION IS A RESOUNDING YES! STRESS IS A FAIRLY UNIVERSAL ELEMENT OF THE MODERN HUMAN EXPERIENCE, AND WHILE SOME STRESS IS APPROPRIATE, EVEN PRODUCTIVE, WE NOW KNOW THAT TOO MUCH STRESS CAN BE QUITE HARMFUL, AND CAN COMPROMISE OUR HEALTH PHYSICALLY, MENTALLY, AND EMOTIONALLY. AYURVEDA OFFERS A BEAUTIFUL PERSPECTIVE ON STRESS MANAGEMENT, BUT IN ORDER TO BETTER UNDERSTAND IT, WE WILL FIRST EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF EXCESS STRESS AND ESTABLISH A CONTEXTUAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE HUMAN STRESS RESPONSE.

THE CONSEQUENCES OF EXCESS STRESS

When we are suffering from excess stress, many systems in the body can be negatively affected - the digestive system and metabolic function (including imbalances in body weight), the cardiovascular system, the musculoskeletal system, the nervous system, the reproductive system, and the immune system. Excess stress can also impact our mental and emotional states, our relationships, as well as the health of our bones (and related tissues such as the teeth, hair, and nails). Stress tends to wear us down on a systemic level, so even though it is a contributing factor in a variety of ailments, it’s influence is easily overlooked. The bottom line is that, if you know that you’re stressed (even occasionally), there is a good chance that making some supportive adjustments could benefit you immensely.

THE MECHANICS OF STRESS

The human stress response is an evolutionary adaptation that has helped humans cope with moments of crisis through the ages. It occurs in response to danger in any form - whether a natural disaster, war, devastating emotional loss, or an encounter with a powerful predator. In the face of a perceived threat, the sympathetic nervous system floods the body with stress hormones (cortisol being the primary player), and initiates a complex cascade of events known as the “fight-or-flight response.” Hormones can travel anywhere in the body and so the effects of cortisol are felt virtually everywhere in the body.