Lasting Health Without Love Is Work . . .

Holiday anxiety?  Why does this time of the year create anxiety and stress to some people?  Like in any social circle, the obligatory family gathering brings together different sibling personalities, lots of effort preparing food, shopping for gifts, and ample face time with each other.  This non-routine scene may cause stress in individuals who are accustomed to their own lifestyle.  Here are a few strategies to help you manage your anxiety.  The first step is to recognize what your stress looks like and the potential causes.  Sometimes we may bring stress on ourselves, and we need to learn to practice different behavior on how to respond in a more positive manner.  Your body will respond better, reducing the load on your organ systems such as your heart, blood vessels, adrenals, and immune system.  The key is to strengthen your stress-fighting mechanisms and prepare your body to cope with the various unpleasant situations.  The foundation of healthy living starts with nutrition.  Provide your body with whole foods consisting of fresh vegetables and fruits, whole grains and legumes, nuts and seeds, lean meats, and fermented foods for a healthy gut.  Whole foods offer complete nutrients rich in antioxidants to build a strong immune system, and help regulate your blood sugar levels.  Too much blood sugar in your system may lead to elevated cortisol levels which increase feelings of stress, cravings, and weight gain.  Second, identify harmful behavior such as overeating, excessive behavior, emotional outbursts, or chemical dependency, and replace with positive coping methods such as reciting daily affirmations and feelings of gratitude, positive visualizations, goal setting and journal writing, and laughing more.  Also, try calming your body with deep breathing exercises, yoga stretching, massage, working out, or take a walk in your neighborhood or park.  Lastly, allow yourself to receive a good night’s rest to allow your cells, organs, and brain and blood sugar levels to reset and reprocess for the next day.  When it comes to managing life, the main goal is to achieve balance by not adding unnecessary complexity to your life so you can be in control of the direction of your behavior and the outcome.  Most importantly, you can enjoy the precious and valuable time with your family!