Breaking Free From Stress

by Robert Turner

Do you get stressed? What makes you stressed? Do you have an effective way to de-stress?

This blog looks at causes of stress and what to do about it.

There’s a free stress assessment and links to effective stress-busting strategies.

People are more stressed and anxious than ever, which at first glance seems odd given that we live in times of unprecedented abundance, travel, entertainment, choice and freedom.

Do any of these stress-scenarios sound like you?

Many people know why they are stressed but they still can’t break free of it (Acute or Chronic Stress)
Many people ask “Why am I so stressed?” They feel stressed but don’t know why (Unexplained Stress)
And some people don’t even know they are stressed. They think the way they feel is normal, they’ve become used to it. This might sound odd but it’s surprisingly common (Hidden Stress).

Which are you?

Let’s find out! Read on…and you’ll also discover what to do about stress – which you need to know because stress is damaging.

Stress robs you of your health, wellbeing, happiness, joy, spontaneity, inspiration and creativity. You’re not the best you when you’re stressed.

Plus – is alcohol your friend or foe when it comes to stress? What about coffee?

Read this blog, take the free stress assessment below and download the free stress-busting guide.

Coffee, Alcohol and Your Body Chemistry

Coffee

First the good news. Coffee is fine! Just don’t go overboard. I love coffee! I’ve been a home barista for over 20 years.

The optimum time for a caffeine hit is mid-morning when your natural sleepiness level starts to increase. There’s a molecule called adenosine that causes us to feel sleepy and inhibits alertness. It clears out when we sleep, but as the morning goes on it builds up in the brain.

Then it’s coffee time! Caffeine blocks adenosine receptors in the brain so that you feel awake again.

Try having your first coffee around 10am and see how it works for you.
Try limiting coffee or other caffeine drinks to 2 or 3 a day as too much caffeine makes it hard to feel calm.
And avoid coffee from mid-afternoon onwards as it can disrupt healthy sleep.

Alcohol

Do you like a drink to relax in the evening? When you sit down after a long day, the first glass feels good so a second glass is going to feel even better, right? It feels like it’s de-stressing.

Unfortunately, it isn’t and it can have the opposite effect as it raises the levels of stress hormones. Alcohol spikes your stress hormones such as adrenaline and cortisol, so when it comes to de-stressing and relaxing, alcohol can’t do the job you’re asking it to do.

Alcohol kills our healthy gut bacteria, and there’s increasing evidence that gut health is much more important to our overall health and wellbeing than just good digestion.

There is nothing useful to be gained from alcohol when it comes to stress, anxiety, depression, sleep, weight, mental wellbeing, alignment or good health.

Hidden Stress

Many people are so accustomed to the feelings of stress that they aren’t even aware that they’re stressed. They consider themselves to be busy, to have a lot on, to have many responsibilities.

They believe that the way they feel comes with the territory, whether it be career, success, parenthood, the responsibilities of adult life, etc.

You can become “addicted” to stress hormones. They make you feel alive, like you‘re living on the edge.

Being Busy All The Time

When asked “How are you?” many people say “Busy!” And indeed they seem to be.

Being busy is one thing but always being too busy is another thing altogether.

Some people are always super busy, but they never catch up and they never get to the point of having everything done.

With this mindset, it’s easy for people to become addicted to being busy, the adrenaline and stress. They love the intensity of it, it makes them feel alive. For some, it makes them feel important or that what they are doing is important.

Living on the edge like this is very stressful and can lead to permanently elevated levels of stress. This can be very physically damaging for the body and also for the mind and spirit.

My new book “Belief Alchemy” has 2 entire chapters about overcoming stress permanently. It also reveals a unique method for identifying and overcoming limiting beliefs.

Find more purpose and happiness in your life, rediscover the joy of life, overcome the limitations of your past and your identity – this and more is in my new book “Belief Alchemy.” It’s out soon – join the waitlist and we’ll let you know as soon as it’s available.

Explaining Unexplained Stress - Where Does It Come From?

Stress can arise from a mismatch between your beliefs and desires and your current life circumstances. In other words, when you are not happy with your lot.

Internal Incongruence Stress arises from inner conflict when your inner and outer worlds are not aligned, when there is a gap between what you want or how you think things should be vs your current circumstances.

When your inner and outer worlds are in a state of conflict, the result is that you are not your best self.

Happiness is your birthright, it’s available to us all, if you’re not feeling it, you can recapture it.

Stress from limiting beliefs and unacknowledged fear. If you’re like most people, you aren’t aware of your limiting beliefs and even if you were, you wouldn’t know how to overcome them. Yet limiting beliefs and fear hold us back and cause unnecessary stress and loss of the joy of life.

Stress and How It Impacts Your Body, Mind and Spirit

Can you “tough it out” and ignore stress? Should you?

What are the ramifications? What does a stressed life look like?

Lack of energy
Can’t do your best work
Don’t get your best ideas
Hampered creative flow
Lack of joy and fun
Old before your time

Bored
Dissatisfied
Lack of purpose
Work and other things seem meaningless
Depression

We Want Happy Hormones!

We want more of the happy hormones – serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin, and endorphins. These happy hormones promote positive feelings including happiness, pleasure, and love. They influence our mood and feelings.