The illusion that substance abuse offers stress relief

July 31, 2015

The illusion that substance abuse offers stress relief: Substance abuse provides temporary relief from stress

The illusion that substance abuse offers stress relief is one that should not be taken seriously because the consequences can be life threatening.

Over the years research has established that the effects of stress on human life can damage individual’s mental and physical well-being. Despite of this establishment, we are somehow bound to be stressed in life owing to the nature of life’s demands today. Experts are very categorical that stress will always be there and reasonable stress may not be bad anyway however, our inability to deal with stress effectively when it strikes is the problem we need to work on. Ordinarily and this is where we all miss the point, when we are faced with stressful situations and circumstances we often go for the wrong elements of solutions. Doctor Dalal Akoury a respected drug addiction experts registered that one of the ways that people often run to for help is the use of alcohol or drugs. Whereas this type of self-medication can provide temporary relief, it however important to note that this is ultimately self-defeating. The consequences is that the individual will have more stress in their life than ever before and besides that they will lose their strength and ability to handle it progressively. Therefore the illusion that substance abuse offers stress relief is misleading and dangerous. Nonetheless there are so many different techniques that people can use to better manage stress effectively. We will be discussing some of those ways as we progress into the discussion and therefore I request you to stay on the link to the conclusion of this article and you will not regret it.

The illusion that substance abuse offers stress relief: Stress Defined

People often struggle to give the precise definition of stress yet in their life this word is used almost on a daily basis. A lot of us will give numerous examples of what stress does in an attempt to define the adjective however giving the precise specification of what stress is remains an uphill task to many a challenge that we want to pull off your shoulders now. Ideally stress is very subjective and people are even struggling to agree primarily on which things are stressful and those that are not. Like for instance so many people will be taken off gourd and fell stressed when they are asked to make a public speech, and yet again for others this won’t be such a big deal. We are all different as to what stressed us but we all have the common fact that despite being different on how and what stress us, we are all getting stressed at one point or another.

Therefore we can make several definitions of stress and one way of defining stress would be to simply register that it is the body’s way of dealing with a demand at any given time. This will involve the release of different chemicals in the body in preparation to taking action. It is also important to appreciate that the fight or flight response is produced by the body when there is a sense of danger. We may not shy away from the fact that stress has developed a bad reputation in our lives and societies, but the again it is also somehow essential for survival. That is because if people didn’t react to external events they would be in great danger from those events. Besides that stress can also be highly beneficial when it comes to preparation for exams or other important events. Does that surprise you? If it does I will explain for your understanding. From various studies it has been established that stress can encourage people to put in a lot of effort and it keeps them focused to their ultimate goal whether it is an exam or any other thing they want to excel in. now that we are all at par with what stress is, let us further into the discussion by addressing some of the elements that triggers stress.

The illusion that substance abuse offers stress relief: Stressors – Triggers of stress response

Anything that triggers the stress response is referred to as a stressor. Therefore some of the most common stressors include:

Sudden death of a loved one
Consistent conflicts at work or home
Chronic Illnesses
Overwork and undue targets
Poor time management
Legal problems
Major life changes such as changing house or job
Relationship breakdown
Unhealthy habits such as substance abuse

It may not be possible to put all the stressors here on paper because they are many and diversified but these are just a few that may help you know what are likely to cause you stress so that you can take action accordingly.

The illusion that substance abuse offers stress relief: The dangers of chronic stress

According to the experts at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under the able leadership of doctor Dalal Akoury (MD) and founder of this health facility, it is important to understand that the moment people spend a lot of time feeling stressed, a lot of changes will take effect in their lives. Like for instance when one is stressed he or she can begin to feel the effects of stress which can cause damage both physically and mentally. This is because the chemicals associated with the stress response are only meant to be in the bloodstream for short periods. Those who are chronically stressed will have such chemicals working overtime. Therefore, the following are some of the dangers of chronic stress that we need to take note of:

Chronic stresscauses the immune system to become less effective. This is because stress forces the immune system to release chemicals so that they end up being overused. Instead of helping people fight off infections, these chemicals begin to damage the individual’s own organs. This can increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes among other chronic complications.
Chronic stress leads to fatigue and depression. Those who are dealing with a lot of stress in their lives will have poor mental health.
It can increase the risk of developing ulcers and digestive problems.
Many people who are dealing with chronic stress will turn to substance abuse.

Finally we will certainly continue with this discussion in our subsequent articles but in the meantime, it is important that if you are stressed and using the wrong substance for relief, it is time for you to choose life and live it in a healthy way. Doctor Akoury is an expert in all lines of addiction and your stressful life is one that she will help you fix in the most professional way if only you can schedule for an appointment with her today for the commencement of your treatment and full recovery.

The illusion that substance abuse offers stress relief: Substance abuse provides temporary relief from stress

Weight Loss and Stress the Missing Link

October 23, 2013

Understanding Weight Loss and Stress

Weight loss and Stress are linked, it is hard to lose weight when– Stress…Is Everywhere! says Dr. Dalal Akoury

Understanding Weight Loss and Stress

Lets face it people, stress will always be in our lives… to a certain degree anyways. It is almost a way of life in the 21st century. Stress can be a major prohibiting factor to weight loss and can even contribute to weight gain. Chronic stress can be tied to an increase in appetite and ultimately stress-induced weight gain. It all starts in our neuroendocrine system. This system activates a hormones in response to stress or life threatening situations. The hormones released during this response is adrenaline, corticotrophin releasing hormone (CRH), and cortisol. Elevated levels of adrenaline and CRH cause a decreased appetite. This result is usually temporary. Cortisol on the other hand is there to support and replenish our body after the stressors have gone. This elevated level of cortisol remains for a long period of time and tends to increase appetite. For most people, increased appetite means increase in weight gain!

Weight Loss – Stress A Tyrannosaurs Rex or a Late Electric Bill?

This response from the neuroendocrine system is doing what it is supposed to do but it was not designed for the 21st century stressors. The increase in hormones was intended for life threatening situations such as, a tyrannosaurs rex trying to eat your entire family as it was in the time of cavemen. The calories or stored food in the body we would have used to fight off the tyrannosaurs rex in the beginning of time is not being expended in modern day. Now “we” mope around and fuss and dwell on our stressors and anger. Eating has become our stress reliever. At this point or neuroendocrine system is confused and has not received the necessary signals to know if we fought off that tyrannosaurs rex or not. This causes us to feel hungry because the hormones are still being released to restore calories lost and our depleted food stores.

AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center team and Dr. Dalal Akoury reminds us that – Weight Loss a ndStress – Cortisol and the Adrenals – are all connected

Cortisol is actually made in the Adrenal Cortex. It controls the strength of our immune system, normalizes blood sugar, and regulates blood pressure. This production is due to adrenal cortical stimulating hormone (ACTH) produced in the pituitary gland. If the adrenals are producing to much of the cortisol, the motions for increased susceptibility to infections and cancer will occur, along with weight gain around the belly area and your immune system can be compromised. Opposite of that, if too little cortisol is produced chronic fatigue can occur and so can exhaustion. An overactive immune system could develop as could autoimmune disease.

Dr. Dalal Akoury founder of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center describes the Weight and Stress connection – Let’s Correct That Cortisol Level!!

Weight Loss and Stress the Missing Link

Stress reduction is an essential part of all efforts to normalize cortisol. Stress is the stimuli that caused the cortisol levels to get out of hand to begin with. Each individual should explore and find the stress reduction techniques that work best for themselves. Meditation, physical activities, attitude changes, just to name a few are good paths to explore. Without stress reduction, therapeutic and support measures will ultimately fail.

Get plenty of rest. Rest must be handled as a scheduled and straight forward strategy, choice, and course of action. That may sound obvious but how well do you really schedule your rest? Otherwise it gets lost and forgotten in the high strung pace of life.

A low glycemic diet is also important. Sugar handling stress increases cortisol levels. Elevated cortisol, then disturbs the sugar handling situation, contributing towards the development of high insulin levels and possibly diabetes. Diet alone without stress reduction will not help you lose weight because weight loss and stress are connected.

Understanding Weight Loss and Stress

Nutritional supplementation is highly recommended in restoring normal cortisol levels. We suggest a Integrative Therapeutic Cortisol Manager. Our product will support a healthy sleeping habit without using habit forming ingredients. Due to the more normal sleeping pattern, the stressors associated with the unhealthy sleeping pattern will disappear. Phosphatidylserine is the main active ingredient in our Integrative Therapeutic Cortisol Manager and is believed to facilitate the repair of the cortisol receptors in the hypothalamus. It is believed that the cortisol receptors get damaged by high cortisol levels reducing the ability of the hypothalamus to sense and correct high cortisone levels. Because Phosphatidylserine helps repair the feedback control apparatus, it is useful in correcting both high and low cortisol levels.

Another nutritional supplement that is necessary are adaptogen herbs. Adaptogens are an entire category of herbs that assist the body in coping with stress by restoring hypothalamic cortisol receptor sensitivity. A combination of these adaptogens are all researched for their effects on increasing stamina, mental alertness and work performance.

The AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center team and it’s founder Dr. Dalal Akoury describe that Weight gain is caused by Stress and Having Healthy SEX will help weight loss

The adrenals are a big deal in many people’s sex lives. People usually feel sexier on vacation when the stress level is down. They can relax and also make up their sleep deficit. Many couples complain that they are just too tired to be interested in sex. A great rule for rebuilding the adrenals is “rest is best.” I can guarantee that if one spouse is feeling fearful and anxious, he or she is definitely not feeling very sexy. Remember Weight loss and stress are closely linked.

All of the adrenal hormones, and all the sex hormones for that matter, are steroids. Steroids are made from cholesterol. You need good sources of cholesterol. Forget the margarine and only eat butter. Keep up a good protein intake, which will also provide good sources of cholesterol. Remember, healthy sex equals healthy adrenals!

Understanding Weight Loss and Stress!

Stress, Hormones, and Weight Gain
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Weight Loss Wellness Retreat AWAREmed .
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CBN.com- Health_ Nourish Adrenals
The Live It Program

Reduce Your Stress and Live a Long Healthy Life!

December 6, 2012

Reduce Your Stress and Live a Long Healthy Life!

Stress and anxiety are common feelings experienced around the holidays. The holidays can be a time of joy and celebration, but are also a potential source of stress. You may feel there is too much to do in too little time. Overspending or not being able to spend what you would like will also cause stress. Stress and anxiety can affect your health by causing you to overeat. The AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center team recommend that you avoid constant stress by meditating and avoid excess caffeine to help hold back anxiety. Do a little planning and have a positive mindset. Learn to cope and manage your stressors and live a longer, healthy life.

Dr. Dalal Akoury suggests some ways to reduce your stress is through meditation, exercise and diet. Learn to meditate through yoga. Take a deep breath and listen to soothing music. Exercise and take a walk. Stretch your muscles and help them relax. Watch your diet. Don’t over eat those high-fat and high-

Reduce Your Stress and Live a Long Healthy Life!

sugar foods. Eat a heart-healthy diet to help you to manage your stress.

Reduce Your Stress and Live a Long Healthy Life! Stress is normal. It is a person’s physiological and psychological response to events when threatened. Your body reacts with a rapid, automatic process known as the stress response or “fight or flight”. “This is the way your body reacts to protect itself by helping you to be focused and alert” Dr. Dalal Akoury explains from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center. In everyday life or emergencies, the stress response helps you to meet challenges or can save your life. Your body’s stress-response system is self-regulating and allows your body to return to normal once the perceived threat has passed.

However, stress can cause major damage to your health if it is constant. Chronic stress is caused by excessive worry, poor decisions and procrastination affecting stress hormone adrenaline and cortisol production. It can cause affect your mood, your productivity, your relationships and your overall health. It can cause addictions, depression, obesity, diabetes, hypertension,

heart disease, pain and sleep disorders. You need to be able to reduce your stress to save your health.

Reduce Your Stress and Live a Long Healthy Life! Your body releases a flood of adrenaline, cortisone and other stress hormones that induce physiologic changes. Your blood races to your brain and heart and causes your heart to pound faster and your blood pressure to rise, which can cause hypertension when in excess. You start to breathe more rapidly and your blood sugar level rises. Since your blood races to your brain and heart, it moves away from your kidneys, liver, stomach and skin and decreases the production of white blood cells which is needed to fight virus-infected cells, foreign cells and cancer cells if it remains constant. As your blood sugar rises, so do the amounts of fats and bad cholesterol, which can cause diabetes and heart disease if it remains high. Stress causes system-wide changes in your body and will alter your immune system if it is not under control explains Dr. Dalal Akoury .

Reduce Your Stress and Live a Long Healthy Life! Take control. As adrenaline and cortisol levels drop, so does your heart rate and blood pressure. Your body returns to its normal state and all your body’s systems resume their regular activities.

Stress is not meant to be continuous. It has to be minimal. But if stressors in your life are always present and you are constantly feeling stressed, your body will not be able to function as it should, therefore, causing health issues.

You can reverse the stress cycle through relaxation. This positive reaction will lower your blood pressure, heart rate, breathing rate and blood sugar levels. There are a number of stress reduction techniques like taking a bubble bath, a walk or meditation. It is important to learn healthy ways to cope with the stressors in your life.

Reduce Your Stress and Live a Long Healthy Life!

Reduce Your Stress

and Live a Long Healthy Life by the team of AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center!

Exercise is an excellent way to deal with stress. It can be walking, meditation, yoga stretching, etc. Exercise at least three to four times a week for at least 30 minutes. Any activity that raises your heart rate and makes your sweat will improve your mood, increase your energy, improve your focus and relax your mind and body.

Dr. Dalal Akoury explains that Yoga and meditation not only increases your flexibility and improves your muscle tone, it also increases your concentration and lessens stress. Meditation helps you to focus your mind and feel relaxed. Deep breathing increases your blood flood throughout your body with extra oxygen and an improved sense of well-being.

Learn to cope with the stressors in your life in a positive way and have self-control. Find time for yourself. Continue to exercise and make good choices about other important health related behaviors such as sleep and nutrition.

Eat a healthy diet to maintain an even level of blood sugar so you won’t over eat. Low blood sugar can make you feel anxious and irritable and cause you to eat the first thing you see. High blood sugar will make you feel tired and lazy and less focused. This swing in blood sugar will affect your mood and cause your stress. Eat small and frequent healthy foods throughout the day to maintain an even level of blood sugar and avoid those swings in your mood.

Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and the Omega-3’s, fish oils. Fish oil helps stabilize your mood and reduces your stress.

Dr. Dalal Akoury recommends that you get plenty of rest to Reduce Your Stress. Having uncontrollable stress in your life can cause insomnia and lower your immune system leaving you vulnerable to illnesses. When you are well rested, your mind is alert, you have more control and your body’s immune system is stronger to cope with stress.

Managing stress is a peace of mind and a longer, healthier life at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center

Tag Archives: Stressors