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Restoring Your Balance from
Stress
written by Sukhjit Dhinsa, DTCM
Stress is our body and mind’s response to something that upsets
our normal balance. When one first faces a stressful situation,
some fall to pieces and others work productively under pressure,
luckily we all learn to cope in our own way. The coping
mechanisms differ vastly for each individual from shopping in a
busy mall to meditating peacefully. With continued stress,
however many individuals experience secondary symptoms such as
nausea, loss of appetite, loss of sleep, irritable bowel
syndrome, severe headaches, clinical depression, the list is
endless. Some have even termed the prolonged effect as the 4
D’s – disorganization, decision-making inability, depression,
disillusionment (fantasy of being rescued by someone who has the
answer to all their problems). Prolonged stress or stress of any
kind can lead to addictions or for old habits to kick-in, such
as smoking, excessive eating, and drinking.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) aims at restoring the balance
and TCM does so by looking at the body and environment as one
unique element. Your TCM practitioner on your first visit will
ask questions regarding your western medical history, questions
relating to TCM (moods, habits, work and home environment, and
about your body), they also look at your tongue, and pulse (a
window to your inside). The answers to these questions will lead
to an individualized treatment incorporating acupuncture, herbs,
moxa or other modalities.
Depending on where in your life stress is coming from, the
treatment will be tailored accordingly. TCM determines if the
stress is from external factors like financial problems, death,
work-related issues, even planning a wedding can be stressful,
or internal factors. Now internal factors can get tricky to
distinguish, they may be constitutional or an illness leading to
stress, or it can be a secondary symptom from an on-going
ailment. The patients’ answers and description to what they are
experiencing help the practitioner determine if the individual
needs to have a tonifying (strengthening) or sedating
(lessening) treatment. This can be achieved by the herbs
prescribed or the even the method employed to do the
acupuncture.
Many individuals turn to smoking as a stress reliever. As you
may notice, even a non-smoker will take deep breaths when faced
with stress. Smokers on the other hand take their deep breathes
with the inhalation and exhalation of tar, nicotine, cyanide and
other harmful substances. Cigarette smoke tends to calm the
nerves and increase their breathing but the long-term effects
are often detrimental and stressful in it self.
Coping with stress can be very challenging until you find the
correct mechanisms to fight it. The next time your heart is
racing, palm sweating or your world seems to be falling apart,
take a step back and take a few good deep breathes in.
Tell yourself you can beat this with the proper help.
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Atlas Sports Fitness and Rehab. Inc.
Sukhjit Dhinsa is a Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine and
Marketing Director of Atlas Sports Fitness and Rehab. She is
involved in treating many injuries and ailments ranging from
headaches to motor vehicle accidents and from arthritis to
Multiple Sclerosis. The clinic as a whole utilizes Chiropractic,
Physiotherapy, Acupuncture, Herbal remedies, Massage and
Rehabilitation. Our goal is to provide you with the best
possible care so that you can return to your maximum potential
to continue life as you want.
Contact:
Sukhjit Dhinsa or Dr. Parminder S. Bhalesar
Email:
asfrcare@netzero.com
Website:
www.asfrcare.ca
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