Immune System Support Series: Manage Stress (Part 1)

Manage Stress - Immune.png

By Lydia Wallie, Nutrition Director

We know that managing stress and responding well to stress is important for supporting the immune system (1). So how do we manage stress without excessive processed food intake, alcohol, or other unhealthy choices?

  • Identify the root issue. Write down the stressors and what’s in your control vs. what’s not in your control. Create a plan for addressing the issue and get help as needed.

  • Remove or minimize the harmful stresses in your life. Draw an outline of a hand on a piece of paper. Inside the hand outline, write down the stressors that you have control over. Outside the hand outline, write down the stressors that you don’t have control over. Work on the stressors that you do have control over and this can help reduce your overall stress load. Why is this important? “A sense of powerlessness or helplessness is the most debilitating and stress inducing emotion there is.” - Dr. James L. Wilson

  • Change your perspective. Your mind is incredibly powerful. “Any situation, no matter how bad, is more tolerable and less stressful when you feel you can do something about it; even when doing something about it means changing yourself rather than the situation.” - Dr. James L. Wilson. Keep in mind, changing your perspective and thought patterns that have been ingrained for decades can take some time to rewire. It’s not a quick fix...Did you know that: Many thought patterns are cultivated from a very young age, even before birth (2) and in infancy (3)? These thought patterns create a foundation that may not always support a growth mindset. 

For more resources on how to manage stress well through changing toxic thought patterns and developing more freedom in life and relationships, check out these resources:

Source List:

(1) https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/03/120305103203.htm

(2) https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/11/111110142352.htm

(3) https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797613518352

NutritionCrystal JuarezImmune Support, Stress, Stress-free, Stressors, Stress Relief, Stress Eating, Chronic StressComment