Category: Anxiety & Depression Page 12 of 13

What is your experience with massage therapy?  What would life be like if you could just stop for a little while and let yourself relax?  Do you find yourself looking for other ways to unwind and reduce pain without relying on drugs?

Massage Therapy is a Lifesaver

It is important to take time for yourself so that you can be healthy enough to cope with stress and handle the everyday challenges of life.  There are so many ways to deal with stress and pain but today I will talk about one of my favorites…Massage Therapy.  My life changed when I started going for massages. It really did! I was suffering from a back injury for a while in my late twenties. I was at the end of my rope with the medical community not being able to help me. 

During my visits with a chiropractor,  I was encouraged to go for massage therapy to help reduce the pain and increase my mobility.  Feeling horrible most of the time, I also needed something to boost my mood and calm down my nerves. So this is when I started my journey with massage therapy and I would soon start to feel better both physically and emotionally.

Although the pain lasted a while, I can say that going for regular massages helped me tremendously. Besides putting me on the road to recovery, it helped me find my purpose and inspired me to look into massage therapy school. Here I am 15 years later and I absolutely love my job and enjoy having a successful business based on my purpose in life- helping others with stress and pain live life to the fullest.

I could go on and on about how great massage therapy is. I want to share my top reasons why I still go to this day and why I truly believe massage therapy is a must-have in everyone’s wellness plan.

The Amazing Benefits

• Reduces Feelings of Anxiety & Eases Depression
• Helps with chronic neck, shoulder, and back pain and headaches
• Increases overall mobility and flexibility
• Improves quality of Sleep and restores vitality
• Relieves joint pain and tense muscles

There are many other benefits of massage so I am sure you can find at least one reason to go!  It is best to consult with your doctor first since there are some conditions that could be affected by massage.  To find a qualified Massage Therapist in your area, visit the American Massage Therapy Association website at www.amtamassage.org. And if you are in my neck of the woods which is in between New Haven and Hartford, CT, please feel free to call or book an appointment online at The Heart of Wellness in Rocky Hill. I would love to help with your journey! A good schedule to consider is every 4 weeks for wellness visits and every week or two if you have an injury or chronic condition.

Forget about the stress for an hour and go unwind on a cozy massage table. Believe me..it will help you reset and deal with whatever is coming next.  Don’t wait until you have pain or are feeling overwhelmed. Get ahead of it so you can handle stress better. 

Sticking to a regular wellness plan not only helps you avoid those nasty illnesses but also prevents injuries. And the best thing is… it helps curb the overwhelming stress we all feel every day in the life. Take care of yourself so you can enjoy life 🙂

xoxo

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage Stress, Chronic Pain, and Anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

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Everyone feels stress at various times in life. We all have different ways to cope with stressful situations. Have you ever thought about how it affects your health?  There are significant changes that happen in our bodies when we feel anxious and have chronic stress.

What is STRESS?

Simply defined, it is an organism’s total response to environmental demands or pressures. During my studies at The National Institute of Whole Health, I learned a lot about how our minds and bodies respond to stressful situations.

I also learned about the General Adaptation Syndrome developed by Dr. Hans Selye, otherwise known as the “father” of stress research. Dr. Selye described it as a nonspecific response to any pressure or demand. In addition, stress is an event that causes change or demands readjustment.

Two Types of Stress

Good, happy, positive stress is known as Eustress. Examples would be falling in love, spending time with friends, and going on vacation. Distress is the type people are more aware of. This is the negative, anxiety-producing stress. For instance, examples would be illness, divorce, death of a loved one, work, or relationship problems.

We are usually more aware of how good and bad stress affects us emotionally and physically. We may feel a pit in our stomach when we are nervous or feel sadness when a relationship ends.

Moreover, poor nutrition is chemical stress and can be detrimental to our digestion, which can lead to other health issues. Physical stress can be an injury or trauma. Environmental stress is the pollutants we inhale outside or excessive noise or light. Spiritual stress can be a change in religious beliefs or questioning our value system.

The Fight or Flight Response

Our ancestors experienced the fight or flight response intensely while just trying to hunt and gather food for their survival.  They constantly had to be aware of predators around them and were probably always in harm’s way. This response has not changed in our bodies over the years. We need this response to survive.

Acute stress is immediate and temporary. Our bodies and minds experience this type of stress only for a short period of time. We experience the physical symptoms of increased heart rate, blood flow to our extremities, and increased metabolism. We become prepared to fight off whatever danger is perceived. After the danger has passed, our bodily functions will return to normal.

Another type is having chronic stress. This is when we continue to perceive danger. Sometimes even imagining danger will activate the fight or flight response. This includes worry, anxiety, depression, and chronic health issues.  When the body remains in a state of arousal and panic it is difficult to return to normal functioning.

Our bodies become exhausted and this can lead to a breakdown in organ function, digestion, and decreased immune system function. This is what eventually can lead to disease and degenerative health conditions.

Some Ways to Reduce Anxiety

Exercise

Diet free of processed foods

Deep breathing

Meditation

Sleep

Prayer

Laughter

Surround yourself with positive and happy people

Consistent Self-Care

Having a few self-care practices and hobbies is essential in managing stress.  It has a profound influence over our lives and affects every aspect of health, but unlike other factors, we can exert a large deal of choice over how we handle tension.

In conclusion, choose wisely and find a few healthy ways to manage anxiety before it takes control of your life and your health!

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

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How is your mindset? Are you a positive or negative person? Is the glass half-full or half-empty? It may surprise you to know that I tend to be negative and think the worst at times. Probably due to anxiety or something. Who knows. Could be from childhood or in adulthood just dealing with so many health issues over the years. It does wear you down.

Once I learned that I have some control over my thoughts and managing my reactions and emotions, I can say that I have a better outlook. But it is in no way easy. Takes a village! Surrounding myself with supportive people and following positive role models helps a lot. Plus my biggest positive influence is my personal relationship with Jesus which is my number one go-to for comfort.

The last few months of the year is tough for a lot of people. The holidays and the weather being colder and becoming darker outside can make you feel BLAH. Sometimes we need to take extra measures this time of year to manage stress. You are not alone! I feel it too.

Be Encouraged

I think it’s important to be encouraged consistently especially when you are feeling low or going through a struggle.  The emotional aspect of health is all about thoughts and emotions. There is a special part of our brain that takes in all of the information, conscious and unconscious, and communicates it to the rest of our body. This is how the powerful mind/body connection works!  There is so much to cover on that one but we will take it piece by piece. Remember, I like to keep it simple!

Let me ask you this… What would your life be like if you could overcome negative thoughts and have a more positive outlook on life? What would be possible?

Help with Gaining a Positive Mindset

I’ve noticed people who experience a lot of stress or suffer from chronic pain or illness often struggle with anxious and negative thoughts. They feel stuck, hopeless, and don’t have a positive outlook on life.  I think we all feel like that occasionally. As you know, my passion and purpose in life are to help anyone suffering or in pain.  Did you know that I created a  DIY self-care product called The Positive Mindset Workbook?

A while back, I was invited to present a workshop to a local Cardiac Support Group and it was a wonderful experience! Using the steps that I outline in this self-care workbook, I was able to coach them in a group setting and share my experiences with them.  We had a lot of laughs, shared some great ideas and it was enjoyable for these cardiac disease survivors. I really enjoyed coaching in a group setting and was honored they invited me to join their private support group.

It is good to have a plan to fall back on when things get crazy and out of control. I developed this workbook with fellow sensitive and introverted people in mind. Some of us may not have a stress hardy personality and need some nurturing guidance. I always feel my best when I follow these guidelines for a positive mindset.

However, these days a lot more people are experiencing anxiety and are being bombarded with negative messages all around. That is why some extra assistance is needed!

What is Covered in the Positive Mindset Workbook

• Discover 10 Ways to Improve Mindset Instantly
• Identify Obstacles that Hold You Back
• Uncover Tricks to Stay on Track with a Positive Mindset
• Complete Discovery Journal Questions
• Train yourself to See the Positive in Stressful Situations

Click here to learn more!

Invest in YOU

Gaining a positive mindset is no easy feat especially when you suffer from a chronic illness.  It takes a lot of practice and effort to make it happen.  I believe we all have it in us. We just need a helping hand and a little push!  Why not try and do at least one thing that makes you forget about the daily grind.  Invest in your mental health and know that you deserve to live a life without negativity and pain.

xoxo

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage Stress, Chronic Pain, and Anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

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How are you feeling today? Happy, sad, excited, depressed, angry?

There are so many emotions we can feel as humans regularly.  God gave us these different emotions and they are truly a gift.  Speaking as an empath, I know what it is like to feel emotions deeply and how they can affect the body physically. An empath is basically someone who is in tune with their own emotions as well as others. Cool… right. Not so much all the time because we tend to take on the emotions of others… both good and bad.  So, add on to how you feel with all the other stuff going on around you. Intense… yes, but there are ways to reel it in before it gets out of control. And believe me, you can control your emotions and keep them in check. It just takes practice and a little bit of self-love.

How Emotions Affect Your Health

You may also feel intense emotions when you are sick or going through a tough time with work, a relationship, or a chronic illness.  This is completely normal! Please don’t listen to those people who say just get over it or RELAX.  Listen, as an Italian woman from New Jersey, the last thing I ever want to hear when I don’t feel good or when I am emotional is to calm down and relax!! That drives me crazy!! I could go on and on about this topic but let’s move on for now. 😉

Another important aspect of health that contributes to your well being and the likelihood of getting a disease is the Emotional component. This one may be the most critical aspect. Do you ever struggle with a negative mindset? Are you all over the place with your emotions? Is the glass half-full or half-empty?  Most of us lean towards one or the other depending on how we grew up and the programming we learn from childhood influences.

Did you know that for every single thought or emotion we have there is a physiological response in our body?

This means that when we are sad or happy our body responds in either a negative or positive way. Imagine how our health could be if we consistently had good thoughts and positive emotions. Oh please, after all, we are human and that is just not realistic!

Tips on How to Control Emotions

To all my fellow half glass empty friends… it is OK to have negative thoughts or emotions occasionally. The trick is to make an effort to not be like that all the time. I know it’s a difficult task for some of us. But it is possible! With practice, anything is possible.

The next time you have a negative thought try this affirmation exercise… replace that negative thought with a positive one.  I like to picture a STOP sign to remind myself to turn around the negative thought.  And if you need help, research some affirmations online. Check out the Positive Vibes board on my Pinterest page for some ideas.

There will be plenty of times in life when you feel negative or very emotional. Allow yourself to feel these emotions but then sooner or later it’s time to move along.  You are the biggest influencer of your mindset, mood, and demeanor. Honor yourself, your feelings, and your desires but then have an action plan of how to combat negative emotions as they arise.

Be KIND to yourself! Take some time to jot down some positive affirmations so you have them handy just in case! I have some of my favorites including some comforting scripture verses that work well for me.  I will be sharing a lot more on mindset and tricks to overcome negative thinking. And if you need some extra help… just ASK 🙂

Talking to a family member or friend is helpful to express those negative thoughts and emotions. I found it helpful to seek professional help even as a Coach. It has helped me so much along the way.

If you ever need extra help with managing pain and stress, I am just a phone call away 🙂

xoxo

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

Subscribe to my Lifestyle Blog!