Ayurvedic Treatment For Stress, Anxiety
Anxiety is a common experience that involves feelings of worry or apprehension about a specific situation or its potential outcome. Anxiety is a common experience that most people go through at some stage in their lives. During challenging times such as exams, starting a new job, making important decisions, or experiencing the loss of a loved one, it is common to feel a heightened sense of anxiety. Anxiety is often caused by external circumstances and how an individual responds to those circumstances. Feeling anxious is a common experience that many people go through. However, for certain individuals, anxiety can be a persistent presence that hinders their ability to fully enjoy daily life and establish healthy relationships with others.
Types of Stress
There are different types of stress that can occur due to various causes and have different effects. This section examines the different types of stress:
1. Acute Stress
Acute stress is the body’s normal response to a new problem or challenge. It happens to everyone. When encountering a new and challenging situation, it’s common to feel the urge to pause, take a deep breath, and gather your thoughts. If you find yourself being chased by someone or have recently been in a traumatic event, it’s natural for your heart rate to go up and for you to feel a lot of stress. Acute stress, however, is not a topic that one would spend much time pondering. Relive the exhilarating experience of a risky situation and savour the excitement it brings.
Acute stress typically does not pose a threat to your overall well-being. It can also give you a feeling of achievement or an exciting burst of energy. Experiencing mild stress can actually be beneficial as it helps you build resilience for future, more challenging situations. PTSD can be triggered by intense experiences, such as near-death encounters or other highly stressful events.
2. Episode Acute Stress
This occurs following a sequence of intense stress episodes. This typically happens when you experience frequent anxiety or worry about possible future events. Due to the overwhelming stress, your life may become quite chaotic. You might also feel like you’re always moving from one challenge to another. The profession you choose also plays a role in determining this. Professionals such as lawyers, doctors, firefighters, and police officers often face intense moments of stress when they encounter challenging situations. In more severe instances of episodic acute stress, your physical well-being may be negatively impacted.
3. Chronic Stress
Chronic stress is the result of prolonged exposure to high levels of stress. Chronic stress can stem from various factors, such as toxic relationships or the loss of a loved one. Chronic stress can lead to a range of negative effects on both our mental and physical well-being. These can include anxiety, cardiovascular disease, depression, high blood pressure, a weakened immune system, extreme fatigue, and various physical health issues like digestive problems and sleep disorders.
Causes of Stress
Stress can be triggered by a multitude of reasons and origins, and they might differ from individual to individual. Below are few prevalent factors that contribute to stress:
- Work-related stress: Work-related stress can be caused by factors such as heavy workloads, tight deadlines, job uncertainty, lack of autonomy, and interpersonal problems with colleagues or superiors.
- Financial Strain: Monetary concerns, such as indebtedness, financial insecurity, or the incapacity to fulfill financial responsibilities, can be a substantial cause of stress.
- Relationship and family issues: Relationship and family issues encompass challenges encountered in personal relationships, such as conflicts with family members, marital difficulties, or the responsibilities associated with caregiving. These concerns have the potential to induce stress.
- Life Changes: Notable life changes, such as relocating to a different location, commencing a new occupation, entering into marriage, having a child, or encountering the death of a close someone, can induce stress.
- Health Issues: Health worries, such as chronic illnesses, acute health difficulties, or the management of loved ones’ health issues, can lead to the experience of stress.
- Academic Pressure: Academic pressure can lead to stress among students, as it encompasses the expectations placed on them, the demands of tests and assignments, and the need to achieve high performance.
- External Factors: Environmental variables such as noise, pollution, overcrowding, or residing in an unsafe neighborhood can serve as triggers for stress.
- Sensory Overload: The incessant inundation of an extensive quantity of information via technology and media can result in tension and sensations of being overwhelmed.
- Personal Expectations: Establishing impractical standards for oneself, relentlessly pursuing flawlessness, or perpetually seeking validation from others can generate stress.
- Traumatic Occurrences: Significant events, such as being involved in or witnessing an accident, natural disaster, or act of violence, can result in stress and the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
It is crucial to acknowledge that different stressors can frequently interact and amplify one another, resulting in an elevated overall level of stress. Moreover, individuals exhibit varying coping methods and levels of resilience, so rendering a stressor impactful for one person but not necessarily affecting another person in a similar manner. Effectively managing stress entails identifying the origins of stress in one’s life, cultivating efficient coping mechanisms, and getting assistance when necessary.
Efficient Ayurveda Treatment for Stress, Anxiety
Shirodhara:
This therapeutic massage technique utilizes a gentle, pendulum-like motion to apply medicated oil to the forehead for a designated duration. Shirodhara can also involve the gentle pouring of decoctions, buttermilk, or even water.
Pouring oil on the forehead can help stimulate and soothe the hypothalamus, which may promote better sleep by reducing stress. The duration of this therapy varies from 30 to 60 minutes, depending on the individual’s condition. In addition, the individual receives a soothing head massage either before or during the procedure.
Shirodhara is known for its ability to enhance the immune system and promote better blood circulation in the head and face. This treatment has been found to be effective in addressing conditions such as Hypertension, Insomnia, Depression, and Jetlag.
Abhyanga:
It involves the full body massage with medicated herbal oils. Abhyangam therapy increases blood circulation to remove metabolic wastes and toxins from the body. It stimulates vital pressure points, which leads to nervous stimulation and reduction in Stress, Anxiety, and Depression.
In this therapy, two therapists apply herbal oils over the whole body (Head to Toe) of the individual in rhythmic and synchronised manner by using the right pressure. The massage goes on for 45-50 minutes in seven different positions. Abhyangam balances the Doshas and treats Mental, Emotional, and Physical disorders.
This therapy boosts Immunity and leads to well-being by preventing Stress and Depression. It is also effective against Insomnia, Paralysis, Arthritis, and Spondylosis disorders.
Nasya:
This therapy is a component of panchakarma, where herbal oils are gently administered through the patient’s nostrils. This treatment has been shown to be highly effective in addressing common concerns such as stress and anxiety.
Pizhichil:
This treatment involves a soothing massage with specially formulated oils that promote both physical and mental relaxation, allowing the body to recalibrate. Pizhichil is a well-known treatment for oxidative stress that typically lasts for about an hour. This therapy helps to revitalize the body and enhance the function of the nervous system. It helps to reduce vata doshas and can address problems such as insomnia, depression, anxiety, and muscular aches.
How to Control the Stress Management?
Anxiety and depression can occur together. One of the main causes of this illness is extreme emotional stress. Thus, it is critical that we learn to control and manage our stress. This will undoubtedly make things easier, and we will begin to feel lighter. Meditation is one of Ayurveda’s most effective stress management techniques. Meditation allows you to relax and restore your system. Yoga and mindfulness are two other Ayurvedic stress-reduction techniques.