2 Stress Busting Activities to Try Right Now

Did you know that any dietary or lifestyle choice that increases inflammation in the body can alter and trigger an immune response and create chronic illness?

This includes, obesity, lack of exercise, a diet of processed foods, smoking, alcohol, and stress, just to name a few.

Short-term (“acute”) inflammation is not the problem. That can actually be good for us. If you scrape your knee, your immune system responds with short-term inflammation so you can heal.

On the flip side, chronic inflammation in the body and chronic illness are tightly linked. “Chronic” means your immune system responded to a stressor, could not eliminate that stressor, went into overdrive, and has never stopped responding since.

If you do a google search on causes for autoimmune flares, you’ll see that stress is always at the top of the list.

Stress on the body and stress in your life are directly connected to chronic illness.

Chronic stress can increase cortisol production, which is associated with increased inflammation, which then increases your risk of an ongoing inflammatory response and the development of chronic health issues.

Chronic health issues can then cause stress, creating a vicious cycle that is probably happening in your body right now.

This is why stress management is part of the 5-Step Framework I teach when working with clients with autoimmune disease.

Finding a method of stress reduction that you can stick to is key. One random day of yoga or meditation won’t get you to the finish line.

I encourage clients to focus on adding in more plant-based foods to reduce inflammation and finding a stress management system that works for them and is sustainable.

STRESS BUSTER 1
This breathing exercise for stress is something you can try right now.

The Square Breath model is a stress “SOS” technique that can provide relief in the moment by taking your mind away from the stressor and focusing it on the breath. 

The Square Breath model includes breathing in for 4 counts, holding for 4 counts, breathing out slowly for 4 counts, holding for 4 counts, and then beginning again. 

Do this until you feel yourself calming down.

STRESS BUSTER 2
Get on the ReNew VIP email list for a free 10 minute guided progressive muscle tension meditation.
Click HERE and put – meditation – in the subject line.

I would love to know how it goes!