Sunday, October 23, 2011

Tips to manage a stressful career

By Ron Kune


A highly stressful job can ruin your physical as well as your mental health. Tight deadlines, long working hours, and constantly being on your feet are something that you may be able to handle with ease. But don't think that it is not taking a toll on your health. If you are feeling exhausted all the time, waking up in the morning feeling tired, having difficulties in concentrating, and constantly having body aches and headaches, it is probably because stress has begun to have its effect on your body.

The best way to deal with stress is definitely to take a break and relax. A vacation can actually prove to be quite healing for both your mind and body. A good and nutritious diet is also important since it allows your body and mind to get the required energy for carrying out its daily activities.

Although a balanced and nutritious diet can help a lot in combating with stress, constant stress decreases the absorption of essential vitamins and minerals. This makes you feel listless and tired. It also compromises your immune system making you prone to illnesses.

Herbal supplements such as kava can be quite useful in such a situation since they help in reducing stress levels and in reducing its negative effects on the body and mind. Kava is usually taken in the form of a beverage by grinding the root of a shrub called Piper methysticum. This brownish powder is then mixed with water. You can also take kava in the form of supplements in which the extract of the root is placed in capsules.

Another very popular herbal supplement for relieving stress and depression is St. John's wort. The herb is known to elevate levels of the neurotransmitter, serotonin, in the brain, thus alleviating symptoms such as sleeplessness, anxiety, stress, and depression.

5-Hydroxy-tryptophan or 5-HTP is another wonderful supplement for reducing the damaging effects of stress. The supplement is quite popularly used as a means to induce good sleep, as an antidepressant, and as means to alleviate stress and anxiety. Research has shown that 5-HTP works similarly to SSRIs, medications commonly used to treat anxiety and depression. Just like these medications, 5-HTP works by elevating the levels of serotonin in the brain, improving your mood, behavior, appetite, and sleep.




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