By Christine Cheng, R.Ph. and Fred Cheng, R.Ph.
Stress…stress…stress. This is certainly a buzzword in any social circle these days. Whether it is the pressures of meeting deadlines at the office, juggling home and work life, dealing with the space in an “empty nest”, studying for final exams, or dealing with the loss of family or friends, life has many ways of making us feel like we have been dealt more than we can handle. This can lead us to feel anxious or even affect our mood in a negative way. It may cause us to lie in bed, exhausted, but unable to fall asleep, which leads to us being fatigued and unproductive during the day.
The first step is to take a step back and breathe. Taking around 10 deep breaths while focusing solely on the rising and falling of your chest can do wonders for helping you to find focus again. Take some time for yourself to recoup on a regular basis. This can be as simple as going for a walk on your own to clear your mind.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, it is important to realize that it would be a disservice to yourself not to seek the help of a healthcare practitioner or a counsellor. A doctor may identify your signs and symptoms as depression and help you get the care you need when you may not recognize the symptoms yourself. A counsellor can be the listening ear that you need to help you sort through the pressures of your life in an objective manner.
Supplements can be used to provide relief to anxiety, help your body adapt to stress, and support a restful night of sleep. ANXIOCALM ® is a patented formulation of Echinacea angustifoliae that works by affecting the areas of the brain that are involved in anxiety control. Relief has been reported after even just one dose of 1 to 2 tablets. For those who have been enduring longer periods of elevated stress, CORTISOL MANAGER ® is a herbal combination of ashwaghanda, l-theanine and magnolia bark that helps to reduce stress and manage cortisol levels. Ashwaghanda is an adaptogenic herb that has been shown to reduce cortisol levels and thus relief stress. L-theanine can reduce the feelings of mental and physical stress as well as induce feelings of relaxation. The active constituents of magnolia bark extract may have anti-anxiety and anti-depressant effects, thereby contributing to the ability of Cortisol Manager ® to create a sense of relaxation and calm. This product is also marketed under the name SLEEP TONIGHT ® as it can help promote a better night sleep.
Remember: stress is a natural part of life. It is not so much removing it from our lives as it is learning how to manage it that will help us to return to a sense of normalcy. It is up to us to take advantage of the tools available to help us to achieve the lifestyle that we want.
(Christine and Fred Cheng are a passionate, charismatic sister-brother pharmacist team at their unique, family-owned and operated Pharmasave locations in Cloverdale and Steveston, B.C. They specialize in natural remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use. Everything mentioned in their article is available InStore. They would love to hear from you or meet you at one of their seminars. Of course, before you begin any activity program or try any OTC supplementation, check with your physician and pharmacist.)
