Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center - (Page 14)
8 CURES FOR
STRESS BUSTER:
EXERCISE
How It Works: Physical exercise produces moodelevating endorphins and reduces stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Focusing on
a yoga pose or your pace on the treadmill helps
take your mind off stressful situations.
Getting your heart pumping doesn't just
release stress in the moment. Research shows
that the beneficial effects continue after your
workout ends, helping you feel calm when faced
with future stressors.
"People who exercise regularly release fewer
stress hormones when they're stressed than people who don't exercise," Bauman explains.
When to Use It: Anytime you can get physically
active, for 15 minutes to an hour.
Lacing up your sneakers for a long run is just
as effective as taking a deep-stretch class. And a
brisk walk around the block has the same stressbusting effect as a 60-minute spin class.
"You don't have to do a hard workout to get the
benefits," Bauman says.
The BENEFITS of Stress
Feeling a little frazzled can be a good thing. In
addition to protecting against danger, the "fight
or flight" response can enhance learning, stimulate immune cells and boost performance.
"Stress is not a problem; too much stress is a
problem," says Daniel Kirsch, PhD, the president
of the American Institute of Stress. "The biggest
problem is that most people don't know how to
cope with the amount of stress in their lives."
Don't stress about feeling stressed out. Just
be sure to use effective strategies to keep minor
stressors from becoming overwhelming.
14
SU M M E R 2 014
SUMME
BLUES
BY STEPHANIE R. CONNER
Simple tricks that will
help manage your mood
T
he sun is out. The birds are chirping. Flowers are blooming. It's
summertime, and the living is
easy. Right?
Not so fast.
For some people, the months of long,
sunny days and lazy afternoons can trigger
depression.
The possible reasons vary, according to
Friedemann Schaub, MD, PhD, the author of
The Fear & Anxiety Solution.
"It can be issues about the disruption of
the routine," he adds. "Kids are out of school,
and you have to drive them from one [activity] to the next."
Plus, when you're paying for camps,
babysitters or vacations, summer can be
expensive, leading to financial stress. And
depending on where you live, he notes, heat
may play a role. For some people, extreme
heat affects sleep patterns, and dehydration
contributes to lower energy levels-another
depression trigger. Schaub notes that for
some people, even wearing fewer clothes can
trigger summertime stress.
Regardless of the cause, here are eight
ways to manage your mood and take control
of those summer blues.
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center
Contents
Phil’s Feature
3 Ways to Give
Summer Numbers
Stress SOS
The Truth About Sunscreen
The Transformers
Get Your Head in the Game
The Journey Continues
On the Cover
The Foot Follies
Friendly Fat
Virtual Health
PrimeTime Health
Back in the Swing
And the Beat Goes On
Out of the White Coat
Transforming Healthcare
Vim & Vigor - Summer 2014 - Gwinnett Medical Center
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